Religions In Quran

TRACING THE RELIGIONS OF THE PROPHETS IN THE HOLY QURÁN Ph.D. Thesis BARKATULLAH UNIVERSITY-BHOPAL 2008 PREPARED BY JUHI ASLAM 1

TRACING THE RELIGIONS OF THE PROPHETS IN THE HOLY QURÁN Thesis for the Ph.D. Degree in Arabic Submitted by: JUHI ASLAM Guide: Co-Guide: DR. M. HASSAN KHAN DR. AYISHA KAMAL Professor and Head Professor Arabic Department Arabic Department BARKATULLAH UNIVERSITY BHOPAL 2008 2

CONTENTS (MAIN) SUB-CONTENTS 4 DECLARATION & CERTIFICATE 5&6 PREFACE & ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 7 & 10 SUMMARY 13 CHAPTERS PAGE I AL-QUR’AN: GOD AND HIS ULTIMATE WORD 16 II THE PROPHETS, REVELATION AND ADAM’S CREATION IN PARADISE 40 III ISLAM AND IT’S HYPOTHESIS 73 IV PROPHETS, BOOKS AND RELIGIONS IN QUR’AN 106 V ONENESS OF GOD, WORLD RELIGIONS, AND SACRED WRITINGS 173 VI PHENOMENOLOGICAL, ANTHROPOLOGICAL, AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL PROOFS ON PROPHETS PART I 213 PART II 312 PART III 411 CONCLUSION & BIBLIOGRAPHY 595 & 601 3

SUB-CONTENTS (ONLY CHAPTER VI-PROOF ON PROPHETS) PART I ….......................................... (1) ADAM 204 (2) SHEES 251 (3) IDRIS 252 (4) NUH 267 PART II.............................................. (5) LUQMQN 300 (6) HUD 304 (7) SALIH 316 (8) IBRAHIM 323 (9) LUT 361 (10) ISMA’EEL 369 (11) SHUAIB 387 PART III............................................ (12) ISAAC 400 (13) YA’QUB 404 (14) ASBAAT 407 (15) YUSUF 412 (16) MUSA 420 (17) HAROON 445 (18) KHIZR 450 (19) YUSHA 452 (20 HIZQUEEL 454 (21) AYYUB 455 (22) ZUL KIFL 460 (23) ASJMOIL 461 (24) DAWUD 466 (25) SULAIMAN 472 (26) ILYAS 491 (27) ALYASA 492 (28) ARMIYA 494 (29) YUNUS AS 496 (30) ZOROASTER 499 (31) ZUL QARNAIN 504 (32) UZAIR 517 (33) ZAKARIAH 519 (34) YAHYA 528 (35) ISA 539 (36) MUHAMMAD 560 4

DECLARATION: I HEREBY DECLARE THAT THE THESIS ENTITLED “TRACING THE RELIGIONS OF THE PROPHETS IN THE HOLY QURÁN” IS NOT SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME AS ONE WHICH HAS BEEN SUBMITTED FOR A DEGREE OR ANY OTHER ACADEMIC QUALIFICATION AT ANY OTHER UNIVERSITY OR EXAMINING BODY IN INDIA OR ABROAD. Juhi Aslam DATE SCHOLAR’S SIGNATURE 5

CERTIFICATE: WE HAVE A GREAT PLEASURE IN CERTIFYING THAT JUHI ASLAM w/o (CA) SYED SUHEL HAFIZ ALI HAS SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED HER WORK ON “TRACING THE RELIGIONS OF THE PROPHETS IN THE HOLY QURÁN”. THE WORK IS SATISFACTORY IN RESPECT OF FINDING OUT NEW FACTS AND ALSO IN GIVING NEW INTROSPECTION TO FACTS ALREADY KNOWN. THE LANGUAGE USED BY THE SCHOLAR IS QUITE LUCID AND ITS LITERARY PRESENTATION IS VERY INFORMATIVE. WE HAVE NO HESITATION IN RECOMMENDING HER WORK TO THE EXAMINERS. SHE HAS WORKED UNDER OUR GUIDANCE FOR THE PERIOD OF MORE THAN 200 DAYS, THE ATTENDANCE AS DEMANDED BY THE PH.D. ORDINANCE OF BARKATULLAH VISHWAVIDYALAYA BHOPAL. BHOPAL DATED: 2008-03-14 DR.MOHD.HASSAN KHAN DR.AYISHA KAMAL (THE GUIDE) (THE CO-GUIDE) 6

PREFACE In the name of Allah (Subhanuhu wa Taála), the Beneficent, the Merciful; Peace and Salutations upon our most beloved Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) And on his family and all his Companions, and all those who follow their path in righteousness. (Ameen) Allah (SWT), the Almighty God of all of us has sent us with a purpose and a mission so that we may reap benefit through this life, through whatever good we learn, and at the same time impart it to people with our whole might Allah has granted us with. O ye who believe! save yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is Men and Stones. [66:6] Allah sent the last Paighambar Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) as the role model who taught us how to live our life to the full, but within the confined dimensions of “halal” (that is, all that is permitted or allowed by Allah for those who wish to submit to the laws of Allah). O Muhammad, ask them: "Who has forbidden you to wear decent clothes or to eat the good food which Allah has provided for His devotees?" Say: "My Rabb has forbidden all indecencies whether open or secret, sin and rebellion against justice, committing shirk with Allah for which He has granted no sanction, and saying things about Allah of which you have no knowledge. [7:32_33] Allah wants us all to follow One Religion without being divided into Sects/ Religions, and that one Religion is Islam- the Religion of all the Prophets of Allah, who gave the same message- “Worship Allah and eschew evil”. Turn ye back in repentance to Him and fear Him: establish regular prayers and be not ye among those who join gods with Allah. [30:31] Our common enemy is devil/Satan who wants us to be misguided and remain divided, that he may prove himself right. Think, should Allah allow the Shaitan to prevail, it shall be corruption all over the world. No one would do justice to another because of the power of satanic forces. So Allah has asked Muslims (those who surrender to God’s Laws) to fight Satan and his forces, because he disobeyed God, and then at the same time persisted on what he said is right. He refused to repent and feel sorry on his mistakes. So Allah said he will remain in hell till eternity. When Allah has given him respite or freedom to do what he wants to until the Last Day, is because Allah is so Just that he never punishes anyone in 7

the wrong, unless the person himself believes in his heart and feels that he has committed a mistake. Was not this in Allah’s power to punish devil on the very instant he refused to obey Allah? And on them did Satan prove true his idea and they followed him all but a Party that believed. But he had no authority over them except that We might test the man who believes in the Hereafter from him who is in doubt concerning it: and thy Lord doth watch over all things. [34:20_21] Allah has told us to show people the truth, after that if they refuse to follow it, they become culprits of their own, and Punishment becomes liable upon them. Has not the story reached you (O people!) of those who (went) before you? of the people of Noah and `Ad and Thamud? And of those who (came) after them? None knows them but Allah. To them came apostles with Clear (Signs); but they put their hands up to their mouths and said: "We do deny (the mission) on which ye have been sent and we are really in suspicious (disquieting) doubt as to that to which ye invite us." [14:9] People ask me why I chose this as a topic of research for Ph.D., when I could have opted for things that are better of, that could earn me more money, especially in a country like India, where there is no scope for Arabic language to develop or grow in the near future, where “Religion” is such a sensitive topic to be discussed about, why I wasted so many of my precious years of youth into getting in this messy business, where I put my life at stake, even by speaking a single word of truth, why? Ah, but we are secular nation, we have got the freedom to speak out. Then let us see how magnanimous the nation of Gandhi is? The purpose here is not to open the Pandora’s Box of stirring controversies. Important is to see how necessary it is to speak out the truth, when you know, what the truth is. And this exactly is my problem. Earth spews out magma, because it does not have a tongue to speak our language. It shakes, but no one understands what causes that, whose orders it takes, but people too readily rush to worship it as god, without following what it says. Surprising isn’t it? The Prophet (SAW) said to his companions, while passing through Mada’in Salih, that banked the ruins of Thamuds, an ancient community that was destroyed in the past, that not to pass it, except when you can cry. That is not to pass it for fun and picnic, but pass it when you could contemplate for what reason they perished? And this is the reason why I opted for this topic. These stories in the Qur’an have got a great deal of bearing upon me. When ever I read the translation of Holy Qur’an I feel, it is very necessary for us to make people aware, why Allah repeatedly speaks about the destroyed nations. Prior to taking this theme “Tracing the Religions of the Prophets in the Holy Qur’an”, I had taken for dissertation in my M.A. Arabic, the topic: “The Peoples Destroyed in the Holy Qur’an”. Before this I wrote articles in newspapers, and did a 8

great deal of reading. And I thought too much, why this, why that, why people follow so many religions, why am I a Muslim? What would have I be, had I got birth into a family who committed idolatry? Would I still be a Muslim then, because people follow what their parents follow? Then one day I seriously decided to study the reality of my own religion, whether that what I follow is right or not, until today when I am so determined and convinced about its truth, Alhamdulillah by Allah’s grace, that I want to share this truth with the whole world, no matter what. I am a reverted Muslim. I am not a Muslim because I am born to a Muslim family, but because I have studied it so hard to reach the truth. There is no god but He...There is no god but He the Exalted in Power the Wise. The Religion before Allah is Islam… So if they dispute with thee (O Muhammad) say: "I have submitted my whole self to Allah and so have those who follow me." And say to the people of the Book and to those who are unlearned: "Do ye (also) submit yourselves?" If they do they are in right guidance but if they turn back thy duty is to convey the Message; and in Allah's sight are (all) His servants. As to those, who deny the Signs of Allah and in defiance of right slay the Prophets and slay those who teach just dealing with mankind announce to them a grievous penalty. They are those whose works will bear no fruit in this world and in the Hereafter nor will they have anyone to help. [Qur’an 3:21_22] The stories of the Prophets leave a grave impact on our hearts and minds. They were our true leaders, who challenged the world inspite of all odds to fulfil their duty toward God who sent them to establish ‘mezan’-the balance of justice, so that we may differentiate the right and wrong. May Allah join us to the company of the righteous. Ameen. "Our Lord! we have indeed believed: forgive us then our sins and save us from the agony of the fire." [Qur’an 3:16] "Our Lord! let not our hearts deviate now after Thou hast guided us, but grant us mercy from Thine own Presence; for Thou art the Grantor of bounties without measure. "Our Lord! Thou art He that will gather mankind together against a day about which there is no doubt: for Allah never fails in His promise." [Qur’an 3:8_9] (aameen) 9

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT In this work of mine I am greatly indebted, first and foremost to my revered Guides, Dr. Hassan Khan and Dr. Ayisha Kamal who have supported and praised me throughout my period of research. They have been very cooperative and caring, because it took a long time for me to complete my thesis, and I went abroad a number of times, that interrupted our discussion sequence. They are gem of a people who work very hard to keep our Arabic Department intact. I know them since I was their student in MA Arabic. They have got great faith and hope in me and my work. May Allah grant them high position in this life and the life to come. (Aameen) Hassan Sir at that time was only a Professor under the HOD Mrs. Arifa Simeen who used to boss him all the time. But soon his hard working quality paid him, and now it is he who bosses everyone. When Arifa Madam got retired from the office, and our Hassan Sir, became the Head of the Department. Alhamdulillah he is very dedicated toward his work. Ayisha Madam is a great lady too, and was a Reader when I was doing my MA. She does all the Office work so smoothly and assists the HOD Sir very well. She has been an angel to me. Apart from them I oblige greatly my husband Suhel, who has been all these times a boosting factor for me to work more and harder in what I see right. Supporting and allowing me spare time for my studies, hadn’t been possible without his support. I am really proud of him for his encouraging and helpful qualities. I love him every moment of his caring for me and my works. We should love those who love us for the sake of Allah, and he is definitely the first in that list. Our son Faraaz with whom we’ve got lots of hopes for future is very patient, intelligent and sharp. May Allah love them both, guide them and make them succeed in all spheres of this life and the life to come. (Aameen) It is said that the first institution for a child to learn is her own mother. Our Prophet SAW said that a child is what his parents make him. So I too am indeed what my parents have made me in this life. Both of them (M. Aslam and Waseem) are successful business people by Allah’s grace, and their position in society has been a plus factor for me to speak out of my self with confidence. They gave me the best School in Bhopal to study and expand viz. St. Joseph’s Convent Senior Secondary School (Idgah). They gave me all the liberties within confined quarters and at the same time also protected me and treated me more dearly than my two loving brothers (Taj Bhai and Suhail). May Allah help and protect them all as they have protected me all the time, and grant them high position in all worlds. (Aameen) 10

Not only these, I greatly honour my loving family of in laws- father and mother (Hafiz Ali and Farhat), who have always treated me by Allah’s grace, as the best ‘Bahu’, (which I hardly think I am, or am I?); I have got my most successful and brothrly ‘Jeths’ (Shahid Bhai in Jeddah and Zubair Bhai in UK) and their matchless wives (Sarah Bhabi and Salma Bhabi), who are very mod and at same time very religious too. I love these more for supporting and caring for me than my ‘Devars’ (Nasir Bhai here in Bhopal and Tarab in the US) who are a bit formal with me in expressing their feelings. Their wives (Almas and Yumna) are my related sisters, and I love them all for standing beside me in times of need; Never to be forgotten my real sister-like ‘nands’ (Saba and Sanam), the former sharing my religious views like my own clone, is a gift to me from Allah. She is my biggest support and inspiration believing the same way as I do, and she is incomparably smarter than I am. May Allah make us all enter Jannah together in the company of the righteous. (Aameen) As the Qur’an is not a Book to play with and draw interpretations to one’s whims and fancies it has to be studied with caution in the prescribed ways defined in the Qur’an and the Sunnah of the Prophet SAW. It is said that if we hold fast to these two things, we shall never go astray by Allah’s grace. He it is Who has sent down to thee the Book: in it are verses basic or fundamental (of established meaning); they are the foundation of the Book: others are allegorical. But those in whose hearts is perversity follow the part thereof that is allegorical seeking discord… Those who are firmly grounded in knowledge say: "We believe in the Book; the whole of it is from our Lord"; and none will grasp the Message except men of understanding… [Qur’an 2:7] Say: "Our Lord! we have indeed believed: forgive us then our sins and save us from the agony of the fire." (Aameen) [Qur’an 3: 16] I have tried my level best to base my study on evidences (daleels) from the authentic sources of traditions (Sahih Hadiths) of Rasul Allah SAW and Qur’anic Exegesis (Tafsirs) from the periods of Khulafa e Rashideen who followed Islam in its right spirit. In spite of that if errors persist I ask Allah’s forgiveness, and request the intelligentsia to point out the errors, because I haven’t had any formal Islamic education from any Madaris, whatsoever because there is scarcity of institutions having combinations of secular and Islamic studies together. The Madaris are too old fashioned and they lack the staff and calibre to match research levels as we had in the earlier days of Golden eras of Islam, like the Cordoba in Spain destroyed by the Crusades who followed to suppress Islamic light in jealousy. In the days of Muslim rule there used to be attached to every Masjid a library, and also a separate women section to study religion without any hurdles. Islam is not a backward religion, as its enemies have tried to prove it is. The Prophet SAW never imposed any restrictions upon women to grow. In fact he urged women to compete with men in righteousness. The Muslims we see today who seem to be following religion are known backwards, because some misguided Muslims thought that 11

Islam is only about ‘Purdah’. Education is fardh al kifayah upon every individual of the Muslim Ummah, be it a man or a woman. Only then Muslims can succeed. The Saudi Libraries like King Fahd in Riyadh are very grand and advance, but there, one ought to be fluent in Arabic to gather data for research. Alhamdulillah but I acquired the valuable Ibn Kathir Tafsir from Jarir Bookstore, a treasure for English Islamic Books. Then there is never to forget Darussalam Publications, a name never to be missed. I have researched tirelessly on the Internet and made use of information available with Muslim Scientists, Doctors, Researchers and Qur’anic Interpreters like Harun Yahya, Dr. Zakir Naik, Dr. Ahmed Deedat (late), Dr. Israr Ahmed, Dr. Farhat Hashmi, Maulana Maududi, etc Saudi radio Programmes have immensely helped that air Islamic programmes in English. Then there were enlightening programmes on Saudi TV Channels such as Iqra. Not only these Discovery and History channels have been greatly helpful in collecting scientific and historical information. Converts and non Converts who have studied Qur’an in depth without any malice toward it, like Maurice Bucaille has been of great help as well. May Allah help and guide all of us to the truth! (Aameen.) The style of writing adopted is the italics indicate the words quoted by the referred writer, whereas, the non italic words which are straight, like here are my own words. 12

(SUMMARISED) “TRACING THE RELIGIONS OF THE PROPHETS IN THE HOLY QURAN” The entitled topic “Tracing the Religions of the Prophets in the Holy Qur’an” is a comparative study of all Religions, what they say, where they came from, and what is similar in them that match with the true spirit of Islam. We have made an effort in explaining that Islam is not a new Religion that came at the time of the Prophet Muhammad SAW, out of nowhere. In fact it is the Religion of all the Prophets, since the first man Adam (AS) was sent on earth with Eve (Bibi Hawwa) to live a temporary life. Our eternal life will be in the Heavenly Paradise that is much more superior to the best and most advanced nations of the world. Here we are only for a short time to be tested, whether we deserve to be there or not. It is said that the first ten generations after Adam, were on One Religion; they were not divided into sects. They all worshipped One God and knew that this One God is the God of all. This does not mean that they did not require Prophets as guide The Prophets Shees AS and Idris AS, of who we know, had come during this time to tell people how to deal with each other. What efforts lead them to Jannah, and what events lead them to hell. Not that the Satan was quiet all these times, in fact within the life of Adam we can see the Satan influencing one of the two sons of Adam- Habil (Abel) and Qabil (Cain). One murdered another because of jealousy- the first human murder on earth. So Allah sent a raven to show him how to bury the dead in ground. Nuh AS, the tenth in generation after Adam was the first Rasul or Messenger, A Prophet of a greater degree because he was sent with the mission to subdue idolatry that had sprouted just before his times; He stopped people from wrong doing for more than 950 years, after which when people persisted in shirk, associating other things to God Almighty, Allah sent a great deluge or Flood that destroyed the idolatrous and saved the believers. According to Qur’anic terminology the believers of all times since Adam are known as Muslims. It has been a trend since then that whenever an evil people came, Allah chose to inspire a Prophet to be sent to these people to show them the right way. Gradually 13

people grew and scattered throughout the world, to all peoples Allah sent a Prophet, speaking their language, so that they may be guided. The Message of all Prophets was the same: “Worship Allah alone” and “Obey Allah’s Orders”, only such will succeed; the others will be punished here on earth as well as in the Hereafter, when they don’t listen. To this many disbelievers question that (nauzubillah) why then Allah was unable to inspire these evil people on right track then? The answer to this is, if Allah had made humans like angels, obeying in whatever Allah commanded, there wouldn’t be any need of the Prophets. Angels do not require Prophets because they are created in such a manner that there is no possibility of them choosing evil for them. Whereas in humans, Allah has given the capability and power or freedom to choose what they will, that is why the worldly life is a test. And so Allah sends a Prophet chosen from men who tilted towards good (and were Muslims at heart). The disbelievers became so because they themselves chose to take that route. Allah had not predestined evil for them. Muhammad SAW had actually come to unite all divided sects known by the names differently termed as Religions-such as Sabians, Jews, Christians, Zoroastrians, Majus and Polytheists that may be from any region, whatever language they speak, whatever nation they belong to, be they Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, Sindhis, Shudras or untouchables, they have got the right to worship Allah and follow Islam, if they voluntarily accept it so. Because the castes and creeds only force people to follow that what Allah now doesn’t Will. It divides us and keeps us aloof from each other. So the laws that Muhammad SAW gave through Qur’an and Sunnah is the final Code of belief that should be followed as it abrogates the puritan codes of laws that prevailed in ancient times. Muhammad’s Shariah abrogates all Shariahs that originated before or after him. Allah has said so, and this is the truth. If we don’t accept it as right we shall face the consequences with Allah’s rage and punishment. And this is so necessary to be conveyed. If we do not inform, Allah will hold us responsible for the sins committed by the polytheists and People of the Book. This whole work is an attempt to prove the authenticity of Qur’an and what message Rasul Allah SAW was sent with. There is no compulsion in religion, and the wrong picture of Islam that is propagated by the enemies of Islam is farce. This whole Thesis has been divided into Six Chapters, on the basis of the Synopsis submitted earlier: Chapter I “Al Qur’an: God and His Ultimate Word” consists of the definition of God Almighty known as Allah by Muslims, followed by the definition of Qur’an, and the matter contained in Qur’an- the scientific Ayahs and prophecies of Muhammad SAW that have been proved right. 14

Chapter II “The Prophets, Revelation and Adam’s Creation in Heaven” consists of the definition of a Prophet (Nabi and Rasul), how God communicates with Prophets. Who are the Angels, Jinns and Devils; How Adam was created, and what lessons we get from these stories. Chapter III “Islam and its Hypothesis” contains the Qur’anic definition of Islam and its Hypothesis, i.e., what is the belief compounded in Qur’an regarding Prophets, why they came, and why laws have changed from time to time; why Muhammad SAW is regarded as the last Prophet of God, and why and how Islam should be accepted. Chapter IV “Prophets Books and Religions in Qur’an” explains different characteristics of all Prophets and the different degrees of Prophethood, depending upon the Message or the Book the Prophets received. This chapter is most important regarding our thesis because it consists of the genealogy of Prophets from Adam to Muhammad SAW, based on Biblical and Islamic studies. It also contains the names of possible kings who ruled those eras; the present conflict between Arabs and Israelis, from where has it emerged; the People of the Book and the Books they were given originally, what they said, and why the Word of Al Qur’an abrogates the presently available Scriptures, that people think are original words of God. This Chapter also consists of the Books named in Qur’an and Hadiths, and also the ‘Sects’ that have emerged by different names of the followers of One God. Chapter V “Oneness of God, World Religions and their Sacred Writings” consists of the definition of Monotheism and the existing world religions what they say regarding Monotheism, if any. Can they be counted in the true religions of God? Can their founders be treated as Prophet of Allah? Chapter VI “Phenomenological, Anthropological, Archaeological Proofs on Prophets” contains the names of Prophets mentioned in Qur’an by name or referred, and the evidential data we could collect, left by the Ummahs of previous Prophets of God. It is divided into three parts I, II and III. DATE SIGNATURE OF THE GUIDE SIGNATURE OF THE CO GUIDE 15

CHAPTER I: AL-QUR’AN: GOD AND HIS ULTIMATE WORD 1.1 Who is Allah and where He came from? 1.2 What is Qur’an and why we take it as a Book to refer back- 1.3 Scientific Miracles in Qur’an that have stood the Test of Time- (1.3.1) The Heavens and the Earth: (a) Raised Heavens without support (b) The Big Bang © The Orbits (d) The Protected Skies (e) Creation Similarity-Qur’an and Bible? (f) No Set Sequence (g) Chaos then Order (h) Plurality of the Worlds (i) Periods Confusion (1.3.2) Earthly Miracles: (a) Mountains (b) Where Iron came from? © The Seas (d) The Water Cycle (1.3.3) Plant Kingdom: (a) Fertilization of Plants (b) Germination © Existence of Opposite Pairs (1.3.4) Animal Kingdom: (a) Animal Communities (b) Source of Honey © Source of Milk (1.3.5) Human Beings: (a) Respiration at Higher Altitudes (b) Specificity of the finger tips © Presence of Sensory Nerves (d) Sensory Nerves and Intestine 1.4 Why Qur’an becomes a Living Miracle for the Whole Universe- 1.5 Prophecies in the Qur’an that have proved true 1.6 Prophecies in the Hadiths that have proved true 1.6 Conclusion 16

AL-QUR’AN: GOD AND HIS ULTIMATE WORD (1.1) WHO IS ALLAH AND WHERE HE CAME FROM? In simple or plain words of late Maulana Imran Sahab spoken some years back in the Tablighi Ijtema held at Taj ul Masajid, Bhopal were that when we reach a place where we find a hut, we immediately tend to think that someone constructed it. If it has no constructor then, where it came from? So in a way whatever exists and what we perceive with our senses has to have a One who created it or gave us the resources to create that matter. This Super Being is Allah. He Himself expresses His presence through the Ayahs (Signs) which help us to believe in Him. Allah is the Almighty God- the Supreme One Who has no partners: neither a consort nor a son or a daughter. The best definitions we can give regarding Him are His own words in the following most concise Surah (Chapter) of His Last Book “al- Qur’an” revealed for the whole aalameen (worlds) of humans and Jinns upon our last Prophet Muhammad SAW: Say: He is Allah the One and Only; Allah the Eternal Absolute; He begetteth not nor is He begotten; And there is none like unto Him. [Qur’an 112:1_4] He is, was and always will be. He has 99 Names mentioned in the Holy Qur’an. As this verse says: Allah has the Most Beautiful Names; So call Him by them, and keep away from those who blaspheme His Names—they shall assuredly be punished for their misdeeds. [Qur’an 7:80] “While other Names are attributes, “Allah” is the proper name of God. Verily your Lord is Allah Who created the heavens and the earth in six Days, and is firmly established on the Throne (of authority) regulating and governing all things…To Him will be your return.. [Qur’an 10: 3_4] He Is the Compassionate (Ar-Rahman), the Merciful (Ar-Raheem), the Protector (al-Muhaymin), the Creator (al-Khaliq), the Shaper (al-Musawwir), the Forgiving (al-Ghaffar), the All-Giving (al- Wahhab), the All-Provider (al-Razzaq), the All-Knowing (al-Alim), the Seizer (al-Qabiz), the Abaser (al-Khafid), the Exalter (al-Rafi), the All-Hearing (al-Sami), the All-Seeing (al-Basir), the Judge (al Hakam), the Just (al-Adl), the Guardian (al Hafiz), the Sustainer (al Muqit), the Reckoner (al Hasib), the One Who Answers All (al-Mujib), the Resurrector (al-Ba’ith), the 17

Witness (al-Shahid), the All Strong (al-Qawiyy), the Originator (al-Mubdi), the Giver of Life (al- Muhiyy), the Life Taker (al Mumit), the Eternal (al-Qayyum), the One (al-Wahid), the Prevailing (al-Muqtadir), the First (al-Awwal), the Last (al-Akhir), the Evident (al-Zahir), the Hidden (al- Batin), the Lord of the Kingdom (Maliku’l Mulk), the Gatherer (al-Jami), the Self Sufficient (al- Ghani), the Light (al-Nur), the Guide (al-Hadi), the Everlasting (al-Baqi), the Inheritor (al- Waris), etc. 1 What is best known about the pre-Islamic religion of pagan Arabia centers largely on traditions relating to the Kaaba and its environs. It was said to have been built by Adam, destroyed in the flood of Noah, and rebuilt by Abraham and his son Ishmael. The place became a centre of worship for the early Arab tribes, who brought the images of their tutelary gods and installed them around the temple. The chief deity of the shrine was Allah, and even before the advent of Islam the Kaaba was known as the House of Allah. The name Allah itself is cognate with the names of God in several Semitic pantheons: The Babylonian and Assyrian ILU, The Canaanite EL, The Hebrew ELOHIM, The Aramaean ALAHA, The Nabataean ELH or ALH, The Central Arabia ILAH A shadowy ineffable deity, Allah was not represented by any image, nor did he enjoy popular cult adoration, as did the lesser gods and goddesses. To distinguish Him from the other gods, he was given the title of Allah Taala, ‘God Most High’. He was revered mainly by those pre-Islamic Arabs who tended to monotheism, and even the Arab Jews and Christians of those days referred to God as ‘Allah’. His name frequently formed part of the personal name of pre-Islamic Arabs. For example, Muhammad’s own pagan father was Abdulla, ‘servant of Allah’, and the name ‘Abdellas’ found among Arab Christians- including at least one bishop- in the Greek version of ‘Abdulla’. Allah was worshipped in the Kaaba sanctuary which was his chief shrine, and the Kaaba was known as the House of Allah (Baitullah). In pre-Islamic poetry Allah is spoke of as the ‘Lord of the Kaaba’.2 18

(1.2) WHAT IS QUR’AN AND WHY WE TAKE IT AS A BOOK OF REFER BACK? Qur’an is the Last Heavenly Book revealed upon Muhammad SAW, the Last Prophet of God, sent by Allah in the 7th century A.D. To the Jews and the Christians, it was not a new phenomenon, as they were already having Books like Torah, Injil, Zabur in their possession. But to the Quraish, the Arab tribe to which the Prophet Muhammad SAW belonged to, to them it was something strange, because for years and years they were devoid of any Prophet or any heavenly Book of God. The Arabs then, were similar to what Hindus are today. They worshipped thousands of deities assuming each and every deity, helping them to attain a particular objective. But when Allah inspired Muhammad SAW with this most awaited Word of His, everything changed- from north to south, and from east to west. Not only the Arabs, but also the Jews and the Christians, and the Sabians and the Magians, all submitted themselves to the worship of one Allah, purifying them from the darkness of jahilliyah. Now, Qur’an became the Book of Faith for those who believed and wanted to attain the closeness with Allah. Those traditions which were sanctioned by Allah SWT continued to exist, whereas others that required reformation were changed for the most refined form of religion that will exist until Qayamah (Last Day) or the Dooms Day. And this Quran is not such as could ever be invented in despite of Allah; but it is a confirmation of that which was before it and an exposition of that which is decreed for mankind-- Therein is no doubt--from the Lord of the Worlds. [Qur’an 10:37] The Prophet and Messenger of God, Muhammad--may peace and blessings be upon him, his family and his companions, was the last of this long line of prophets and Islam is the last religion until the Day of Judgement. It is the final expression of the Abrahamic tradition. One should in fact properly speak of the Judeo-Christian-Islamic tradition, for Islam shares with the other Abrahamic religions their sacred history, the basic ethical teachings contained in the Ten Commandments and above all, belief in the One God. And it renews and repeats the true beliefs of Jews and Christians whose scriptures are mentioned as divinely revealed books in Islam's own sacred book, the Quran. 3 The Unlettered Ummi [SAW, Allah keep him] was purposely chosen by Allah to be a Teacher of mankind because from him no one could expect to receive the treasures of knowledge and guidance with utmost precision, flawless, incomparable genius that it would turn into a miracle. When coming face to face with its verses those who heard it, had got no other choice but to surrender to the Will of the Almighty. Say: ‘Believe in it or do not believe’, behold, those who are already endowed with knowledge, fall down upon their faces in prostration as soon as this (divine writ) is conveyed unto them. [17:107] 19

Until Allah keeps this Book on earth, people have a chance to read understand and follow it because it is a Book which calls upon all humanity and jinns to turn to it and believe in it. It is the WORD of God who has revealed it for our benefit. Once the doors of repentance are shut, this Qur’an will be taken up from this earth because following it, people shall see the Evident Signs of Qayamah (Doom) such that everyone seeing them will have no other choice, but to accept Islam and believe in God and His Truth. But alas to no avail. Qur’an is the blessing from the Unseen (al ghaib) God Who wants us to recognise Him and follow Him. Alif. Lam. Mim. This is the Scripture whereof there is no doubt, a guidance unto those who ward off (evil); Who believe in the Unseen, and establish worship, and spend of that We have bestowed upon them; And who believe in that which is revealed unto thee (Muhammad) and that which was revealed before thee, and are certain of the Hereafter. These depend on guidance from their Lord. These are the successful. [Qur’an 2:1_5] The Prophet SAW stated that among the Prophets he was given a revelation, meaning, he was especially entrusted with the miraculous Qur’an that challenged mankind to produce something similar to it 4 If you are in doubt as to whether the revelations which We have sent to Our servant (Muhammad) are from Us or not, then produce one Surah like this; and call your witnesses besides Allah to assist you, if you are right in your claim; But if you are unable to do so, and you can never do so, then fear the Hell fire, whose fuel is men and stones which is prepared for the unbelievers. [Qur’an 2:23_24 (F. Malik tr.)] To be precise, The Quran is a record of the exact words revealed by God through the Angel Gabriel to the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) during the twenty-three-year period of his prophetic mission. It was revealed in the Arabic language, memorized by Muhammad (SAW). He dictated this to his Companions, which was written down by scribes, who cross-checked it during his lifetime. Under the direction of the Prophet, the verses and chapters were organized in the order known to Muslims to this day. Not one word of its 114 chapters, Suras, has been changed over the centuries, so that the Quran is in every detail the unique and miraculous text which was revealed to Muhammad (SAW) fourteen centuries ago. There is only one text of the Quran accepted by all schools of Islamic thought and there are no variants. 5 20

(1.3) SCIENTIFIC MIRACLES IN QUR’AN THAT HAVE STOOD THE TEST OF TIME: Allah produces the Signs of His Genius so that we may fear Him and believe in Him and thus surrender to the Lord of the Worlds. Verily in the alternation of the Night and the Day and in all that Allah hath created in the heavens and the earth are Signs for those who fear Him; Those who rest not their hope on their meeting with Us but are pleased and satisfied with the life of the present and those who heed not Our Signs: Their abode is the Fire because of the (evil) they earned. [Qur’an 10: 6_8] (1.3.1) The Heavens and the Earth: “The Qur’an has many miraculous evidences proving that it is a revelation from God. Of course the Qur’an is not the Book of science, however, the number of scientific truths, which are explained in a very profound and concise manner have only been uncovered by the technology of the 20th century that were stated in the Qur’an 1400 years ago. (a) Raised Heavens without support: In the seventh century, when the Qur’an was revealed, Arab society had many superstitious beliefs where scientific issues were concerned. Lacking the technology to examine the universe and nature these early Arabs believed in legends inherited from past generations. They supposed for example that the mountains supported the sky above, which God clarified: God is He Who raised up the heavens without any support..(Surah ar-Ra’d, 2) (b) The Big Bang: The origin of the universe is described in the Qur’an as: And it is We Who have constructed the heaven with might, and verily it is We Who are constantly expanding it. (Surah Adh-Dhariyat, 47) The word ‘heaven’ as stated in the verse is used in various places in the Qur’an with the meaning of space and universe. This information given in the Qur’an is in full agreement with the findings of the contemporary science. This event known as the Big Bang produced the entire universe about 15 billion years ago, creating it from nothingness, as a result of explosion from a single point. He is the Originator of the Heavens and the Earth. (Surah An’am, 101) 21

Until the dawn of the 20th century, the only view prevailing in the world of science was that, the universe has a constant nature, and it has existed since infinite time. The research, observations and calculations carried out by means of modern technology, however revealed that the universe infact, had a beginning and that it constantly expands. At the beginning of the 20th century, the Russian physicist Alexander Freeman, and the Belgian Cosmologist George Leomatra theoretically calculated that universe is in constant motion, and that it is expanding. This fact was also proved by observational data in 1929, when while observing the sky with his telescope, Edwin Hubble, the American astronomer discovered that the stars and galaxies were constantly moving away from each other. (c) The Orbits: While referring to the sun and the moon in the Qur’an, it is emphasized that each moves in a certain orbit: It is We Who created the night and the day, and the sun and the moon. They swim along each in an orbit. (Surah Ambiya, 33) It is mentioned in another verse too that the sun is not static, but it moves in a certain orbit: And the Sun runs to its resting place. That is the decree of the Almighty, All-Knowing. (Surah Yaseen, 38) These facts communicated in Qur’an have been discovered by astronomical observations of our age. According to the calculations of experts on astonomy, the sun is travelling at the enormous speed of 720,000 Kms an hour in the direction of the star Vega, in a particular orbit called the Solar Ipex. This means that the sun travels at a roughly 17,280,000 Km/day. Along with the sun, all planets nd satellites along with the gravitational pull of the sun, also travel the same distance. In addition all the stars and the planets have also the same planned motion. That the entire universe is full of paths and orbits is mentioned in this verse of the Qur’an: By the sky, full of paths and orbits! (Surah adh-Dhariyat, 7) There are about 200 billion galaxies in the universe consisting about 200 billion stars in each. Most of these stars have planets, and most of these planets have satellites. All of these bodies move in a concise orbit of its own. For millions of years, each of it is swimming along in its own orbit in perfect harmony and order over the others. The orbits of the universe do not always belong to the celestial bodies, the galaxies also travel at the enormous speed computed in the planned orbits. During these movements none of these celestial bodies come across each other or collide withone another. Surely, when the Qur’an was revealed, we possessed no telescopes to make observations, as we did today with advanced modern knowledge of physics and astronomy. Therefore at that 22

time it was not possible to determine scientifically as declared in the Qur’an because it is the word of God. (d) Protected Skies: We made the Sky, a preserved and protected roof, yet, they still turn away from Our Signs. (Surah al Ambiya, 32) This attribute of the sky has been proved true, by scientific research done in the 20th century. The atmosphere surrounding the earth serves crucial function in the continuity of life. While destroying many meteors, big and small coming, it prevents them from falling to earth, as they approach toward earth to harm living things.“ 6 (Except of course, when God Himself Wills.) (e) Creation similarity-Qur’an and Bible? “For many European commentators, the description of the creation, in the Qur’an is very similar to the one in the Bible. The obvious resemblances between the two texts are well known; among them the fact that, at first glance, the number given to the successive stages of the Creation is identical: the six days in the Bible correspond to the six days in the Qur’an. Your Lord is God Who created the heavens and the earth in six days. (Qur’an 7:54) The Sacerdotal version of the Bible (on the other hand) written by priests and scribes, who were the spiritual successors of Ezekiel, the prophet of exile to Babylon writing in the sixth century BC, says: Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host (sic) of them. And on the seventh day, God finished His work, which He had done. So God blessed the seventh day and hallowed it, because on it God rested from all His work, which He had done in creation. (Bible Chapter 2 verses 1_2) The way, the Bible interprets it, the word ‘day’, means the interval of time between two successive sunrises or sunsets for an inhabitant of the earth. Whereas in the Qur’an, the word translated as ‘days’, comes from ‘ayyam’- the plural of ‘yaum’ or ‘day’. The plural ayyam can mean, not just ‘days’, but also ‘long length of time’, an indefinite period of time (but always long). The meaning ‘period of time’ that the word contains is to be found elsewhere in the Qur’an: …in a period of time (yaum) whereof the measure is a thousand years of your reckoning. (Qur’an: sura32, verse 5) …in a period of time (yaum) whereof the measure is 50,000 years. (Qur’an: sura 70, verse 4) The fact that the word ‘yaum’ could mean a period of time that was quite different from the period that we mean by the word ‘day’ struck very early commentators, who, of course, did not have the knowledge we possess today concerning the length of the stages in the formation of the Universe. 23

In the Sixteenth century AD, for example, Abu al Su’ud who could not have had any idea of the day as defined astronomically in terms of the Earth’s rotation, thought that for the Creation a division must be considered that was not into days as we usually understand the word, but into ‘events’ (in Arabic nauba). Yusuf Ali (1934), in his commentary on each of the verses that deals with the stages in the Creation, insists on the importance of taking the word, elsewhere interpreted as ‘days’, to mean in reality ‘very long Periods, or Ages, or Aeons’.” 7 At the same time Qur’an also corrects the Judeo Christian dogma of the “Day of Rest” in a verse saying: We created the Heavens, the Earth, and what is between them in six periods, and NO WEARINESS TOUCHED US. (sura 50 verse 38) (f) No set Sequence: A point to be kept in mind is that, the Qur’an does not lay down a sequence for the creation of the heavens and the earth. “The number of verses in which the Earth is mentioned first is quite small, e.g. sura 2 verse 29, and sura 20, verse 4, where the reference is made to ‘Him Who created the Earth and the high Heavens’. The number of verses where the Heavens are mentioned before the Earth is, on the other hand, much larger: sura 7, verse 54; sura 10 verse 3; sura 11, verse 7; sura 25 verse59; sura 32 verse 4; sura 50 verse 38; sura 57 verse 4; sura 79 verse 27 to 33; sura 91 verses 5 to 10. (g) Chaos then Order: The Qur’an presents in two verses a brief synthesis of the phenomena that constituted the basic process of the formation of the Universe. Do not the Unbelievers see that the heavens and the earth were joined together, then We clove them asunder, and We got every living thing out of water. Will they then not believe? (sura 21, verse 30) The statement of the existence of the gaseous mass with fine particles, for this is how the word ‘smoke’ (dukan in Arabic) is to be interpreted. Smoke is generally made up of a gaseous substratum, plus, in more or less stable suspension, fine particles that may belong to solid and even liquid states of matter at high or low temperature. The reference to a separation process (fatq) of a primary single mass whose elements were initially fused together (ratq). It must be noted that in Arabic ‘fatq’ is the action of breaking, diffusing, separating, and that ‘ratq’ is the action of fusing or binding together elements to make a homogeneous whole. (h) Plurality of the worlds: 24

This concept of the separation of a whole into several parts is noted in other passages of the Book with reference to multiple worlds as: Praise be to God, Lord of the worlds (aalameen).(sura fatiha verse 1). The term ‘worlds’ reappears dozens of times in the Qur’an. The Heavens are referred to as multiple as well, because of their symbolic numeric quality: 7. This number is used 24 times throughout the Qur’an for various numerical quantities. It often carries the meaning of ‘many’ although we do not know exactly why this meaning of the figure was used. The Greeks and the Romans also seem to have used the number to mean plurality. In the Qur’an twhe number 7 refers to the heavens themselves (samawat). God is the One: Who created seven heavens, and of the earth (ard)- a similar number. The Command descends among them so that you know that God has power over all things, and comprehends all things in His Knowledge. (sura 65 verse 12) There are therefore many Heavens and Earths, and it comes as no surprise to the reader of the Qur’an to find that earths such as our own may be found in the Universe, a fact that has not yet been verified by man in our time. (i) Periods confusion? One of the largest passages of the Qur’an, which deals with the Creation, describes the latter, by juxtaposing an account of earthly events and one of celestial events: Say: ‘Do you disbelieve Him Who created the earth in two periods? Do you ascribe equals to Him? He is the Lord of the worlds. He set in the earth mountains standing firm. He blessed it. He measured therein its sustenance in four periods, in due proportion, in accordance with the needs of those who ask for sustenance. Moreover (God) turned to the Heaven when it was smoke, and said to it and to the earth: ‘Come willingly or unwillingly’, They said: ‘We come in willing obedience’. Then He ordained them seven heavens in two periods, and He assigned to each heaven its mandate by revelation. And We adorned the lower heaven with luminaries, and provided it a guard. Such is the decree of the Almighty, the Full of knowledge. (sura 41 verses 9_12) Critics have seen in this passage a contradiction with the statement of the six periods of Creation. By adding the two periods of the formation of the Earth to the four periods of the spreading of its sustenance to the inhabitants, plus the two periods of the formation of the Heavens, we arrive at eight periods. This would then be in contradiction with the six periods mentioned above. In fact, however, this text, which leads man to reflect on Divine Omnipotence, beginning with the Earth and ending with the Heavens, provides two sections that are expressed by the Arabic word ‘tumma’, translated by ‘moreover’, but which also means ‘furthermore’ or ‘then’. It may be a simple reference to events juxtaposed without any intention of bringing in the notion of the 25

one following the other. However, this may be, the periods of the Creation of the Heavens may just as easily coincide with the two periods of the Earth’s Creation. There does not appear to be any contradiction between the passage quoted here and the concept of the formation of the world in six stages that is to be found in other texts.” 8 (1.3.2) Earthly Miracles: (a) Mountains: “The Qur’an draws ttention to the very important geological function of Mountains. We placed firmly embedded mountains on the earth, so that it would not move under them. (Surah al-Ambiya, 31) In a scientific text, the structure of mountains is described as follows: ‘Where Continents are thicker, as in mountain ranges, the crust sinks deeper into the mantle’. According to the modern geological findings, Mountains emerge as a result of the movements and collisions of massive plates cooling the earth’s crust. When the plates collide, the stronger one slides under the other. The one on top forms heights and mounds of the mountain. The layer beneath proceeds under the ground, and makes a deep extension downward. That means that the Mountains have a portion stretched downward as large visible portions above the earth. Have We not made the Earth as a bed, and the Mountains its pegs? (Surah 78 an-Naba, 6_7) Mountains, in other words clinge the plates in the earth’s crust by extending above and beneath, the earth’s surface, at the conjunction points of these plates. In this way they fix the earth’s crust, prevent them from drifting over the magna stratum or among these plates. Briefly, we may liken Mountains to nails that keeps two pieces together. This fixing function of the mountains in scientific literature is known by the term ‘Isostacy’. It is defined as: ‘General equilibrium in the earth’s crust maintained by a yielding flow of rock material beneath the surface under gravitational stress’. (Websters New 20th century Dictionary, New York, p.975). (b) Where Iron came from? Iron is one of the elements highlighted in the Qur’an: We have sent down [‘anzalna’ from naazil] iron in which there lies the great force, and which has set many uses for the mankind. (Surah 57 al-Hadid, 25) The word ‘sent down’ particularly used in the verse could be thought to have a metaphorical meaning explaining that iron is given for the service of the people. But, when we take into consideration the literal meaning of the word, which is, ‘physically sent down from the sky’, we understand that this verse reveals a very significant scientific miracle. 26

This is because the modern astronomical findings have disclosed that the metal iron has come down to our earth from giant stars in the space. The heavy metal is produced in the nucleus of big stars. Our solar system, however does not have a suitable atmosphere to produce iron on its own. Iron can only be produced in much bigger stars than the sun, where the temperature reaches a few hundred million degrees. When the amount of iron exceeds certain limit in the star, the star can no longer bear it, and it eventually explodes, in what is called a Nova or a super Nova. As a result of this explosionmeteors containing iron are scattered around the universe, and they move from the void into the orbit with the gravitational force of the celestial body. All this shows that the metal iron, did not form on the earth, but was carried from the exploding stars in space via meteor, they were sent down to earth, exactly the same way as stated in the verse of the holy Qur’an. (c) The Seas: Qur’an says: He has let loose the two Seas, converging together with a barrier between them- -that do not break through. (Surah 55 ar-Rahman, 19_20) This property of the Seas that they converge together, yet do not mingle has been very recently discovered by oceanographers. Because of a physical force called the ‘surface tension’, the waters of neighbouring seas do not mix. Caused by the difference in the density of the seae, surface tension prevents the seas from mingling with one another, just as if there was a thin wall was between them.” 9 “It is He Who has let free [‘maraja’-let free or let loose cattle for grazing] the two bodies [‘bahrain’-two seas/rivers] of flowing water: one palatable and sweet, and the other salt and bitter; yet has He made a barrier between them a partition that is forbidden to be passed. (Surah 25 al-Furqan, 53) (1) The great salt Ocean, and (2) the bodies of sweet water fed by rain, whether they are rivers lakes, or underground springs, their source in rain makes them one, and their drainage whether above ground or under ground, eventually to the ocean, also makes them one. They are free to mingle, and in a sense, they do mingle, for there is a regular water cycle. Yet, in spite of all this, the laws of gravitation are like a barrier or partition set by Allah, by which the two bodies of water, as a whole, are always kept apart and distinct. In the case of the rivers carrying large quantities of water carrying to the sea, like the Mississippi, or the Yangtse-Kiang, the river water with its silt remains distinct from sea water for a long distance out at sea. But the wonderful sign is that, the two bodies of water, though they pass through each other, remain distinct bodies, with their distinct functions. (d) The Water Cycle: 27

And He it is Who sends the Winds as heralds of glad tidings going before His Mercy and We send down purifying water from the sky; That with it We may give life to a dead land and slake the thirst of things We have created cattle and men in great numbers; And We have distributed the (water) amongst them in order that they may celebrate (Our) praises but most men are averse (to aught) but (rank) ingratitude. [Qur’an 25:48_50] The winds are heralds of joy, ushering in rain, which is one form of Allah’s Mercy. Heat sets up currents in the atmosphere, besides sucking up moisture from the seas, and distributing it by means of winds over wide surfaces of the earth. Rain water (in pure air) is not only pure water distilled in air and sky, but it is the best purifying and sanitating agent on the largest scale known to us. The whole cycle of water-sea, clouds, rain/hail/snow, rivers, and sea again-is a remarkable illustrationof the processes of nature with Allah’s providence available to us. The salts of the sea sanitate and purify all the filth that pours into it. 10 “If however, we consider the various concepts, the ancients had on this subject, it becomes clear that the data in Qur’an do not embody the mythical concepts current at the time of the Revelation. In the seventh century BC Thales of Miletus held the theory, whereby the waters of the oceans, under the effect of the winds, were thrust towards the interior of the continents; so the water fell upon the earth and penetrated into the soil. Plato shared these views, and thought that the return of the waters to the oceans was via a great abyss-the ‘Tartarus’. This theory had many supporters until the 18th century, one of them was Descartes. Aristotle imagined that the water vapour from the soil condensed in cool mountain caverns and formed underground lakes that fed springs. He was followed by Seneca (1st century AD) and many others until 1877, among them O Volger…The first clear formulation of the water cycle must be attributed to Bernard Palissy in 1580: he claimed that underground water came from rainwater infiltrating into the soil. This theory was confirmed by E. Mariotte and P. Perrault in the 17th century. In Qur’an, there is no trace of the mistaken ideas that were current at the time of Muhammad.” 11 (SAW) (1.3.3) Plant Kingdom (a) Fertilization of plants: “It is We Who send the fertilizing winds, then We send down water from the sky.. (Surah Hijr 15:22) Wind is one of the most effective means of spreading pollens, thereby causing fertilization in plants. This again is one of the recent discoveries in botany.” 12 “We send down from the sky blessed water, whereby We caused to grow gardens, grains for harvest, tall palm trees with their spathes, piled one above the other—sustenance for our servants. Therewith We give (new) life to the dead land, so will be the emergence from the tombs). [Sura 50 al-Qaf, verses 9_11] 28

It is mentioned that in one second about 16,000,000 tons of water evaporates from the earth. This figure is equal to 513 trillion tons of water in one year. This measure is equal to the amount of rain that falls in a year. This means that the water continuously travels in a balanced cycle according to a measure. Life on earth depends on this cycle of water. This cycle cannot be produced artificially”. 13 (b) Germination: “It is Allah Who causeth the seed-grain and the date-stone to split and sprout… [Sura 6 An’am, 95] Botanists will notice that the seed grain includes the cereals such as wheat, barley, rice, millet, etc, which are monocotyledons, as well as the pulses such as beans, peas, grams, etc, and other seeds which are dicotyledons. These two represent the most important classes of food grains, while the date palm, a monocotyledon, represents for Arabia both food, fruit, confectionary, thatch, and pillars for houses, shady groves in oasis, and a standard measure of wealth and well being. “Split and Sprout” both ideas are included in the root falaqa. 14 (c) Existence of Opposite pairs: Glory be to Allah, Who created in pairs all things that the earth produces, as well as their own kind, and other things of which they have no knowledge. (Surah Yaseen 36:36) The Qur’an in this verse states the presence of opposite pairs in all forms of life, including the forms, which were unknown to mankind at the time of Qur’an’s revelation. Recent advancements in science have shown that not only all animals and plants, but also bacteria have an opposite pair or strain. This verse, which clearly states a fact that was unknown to previous generations, and has been recently discovered, could have come only from the All- Knowing Allah. 15 (1.3.4) Animal Kingdom (a) Animal Communities: “There is not an animal (that lives) on the earth nor a being that flies on its wings but (forms part of) communities like you. Nothing have We omitted from the Book and they (all) shall be gathered to their Lord in the end; With Him are the keys of the Unseen the treasures that none knoweth but He. He knoweth whatever there is on the earth and in the sea. Not a leaf doth fall but with His knowledge: there is not a grain in the darkness (or depths) of the earth nor anything fresh or dry (green or withered) but is (inscribed) in a Record Clear. [Surah An’am 6:38, 59] 29

Animals living on the earth include- thos living in the water as well as the four footed beasts. Life on the wing is separately mentioned. “Tair” which is ordinarily translated as “bird” is anything that flies, including mammals like bats. In our pride we may exclude animals from our purview, but they all live a life, social and individual, like ourselves, and all life is subject to the Plan and the Will of God. In other words they all obey His archetypal Plan, the Book which is mentioned here. They are all answerable in several degrees to His Plan (‘shall be gathered to their Lord in the end’).” 16 “Blachere states that an older commentator, such as Razi, thought that this verse only referred to instinctive actions whereby animals worship God. Sheik Si Boubakeur Hamza, in the commentary to his translation of the Koran, speaks of ‘the instinct which, according to Divine Wisdom, pushes all beings to group together, so that tey demand that the work of each member serve the whole group’. Animal behaviour has been closely investigated in recent decades, with the result that genuine animal communities have been shown to exist. Of course, for a long time now the results of a group or community’s work have been examined and this has led to the acceptance of a community organization. It has only been recently however, that the mechanisms which preside over this kind of organization have been discovered for certain species. The most studied and the best known case is undoubtedly that of the bees, to whose behaviour the name von Frisch is linked. Von Frisch, Lorenz and Tinbergen received the 1973 Nobel Prize for their work in this field.” 17 Once there was a programme on National Geographic, how the group of elephants together bullied off a hunting tiger to save their young one. We can also observe the community tilts clearly in the birds who migrate from one place to another in groups; and the ants who work together for their food supplies; There are two very interesting chapters in the holy Qur’an with the names called An-Nahl for ‘The Bee’ and An- Naml for ‘The Ants’ respectively. (b) Source of Honey: “And your Lord inspired the Bee, saying: ‘Take your habitations in hills, on trees, and in (men’s) habitations. Then eat of all fruits, and follow the way of your Lord made easy (for you)’; There comes forth from their bellies, a drink of varying colours, wherein is healing for men; Verily, in this indeed is a sign for people who think. [Surah Nahl 16: 68_69] It should be pointed out that the Arabic language uses two forms of verbs, one for male and the other for the female gender. The Qur’an in this verse uses the female form of the verb. The Qur’an thus clearly states that the female bee is entrusted with the task of collecting the food and making the honey. It should also be added that the difference between the male and the female bee is so minute that only an expert can discern it. Needless to say Muhammad SAW was not an expert entomologist and could not discern between male and female bee. The popular belief about bees for centuries was that the bees that one typically sees are male bees, and that they go home to answer to a king bee. Recent advancements in entomology have 30

shown that female bees fly around, and go home to answer to a queen bee. This information was however already present in the Qur’an for more than fourteen centuries. (c) Source of Milk: Verily in cattle, there is lesson for you. We give you to drink of what is inside your bellies coming from a conjunction between the contents of the intestine and blood, a milk- pure and pleasant for those ho drink it. (Surah Nahl 16:66) The Qur’an here decribes the biological process in mammals, which brings together the contents of the intestine and the blood, at the level of the intestinal wall: which produces milk. This is in perfect harmony with recent discoveries made in the physiology of the digestive system of mammals. 18 (1.3.5) Human Beings (a) Respiration at Higher Altitudes: Those whom Allah wills to guide, He opens their breasts to Islam. Those whom He Wills to leave straying, He makes their breasts closed and constricted as if they have to climb up (to high altitudes) in the skies. (Surah An’am 6:125) We are now able to explain this verse on the basis of our knowledge of air pressure. It is now common knowledge that air pressure at higher altitudes is lower than that at sea level. There are no [very] high montains in the Arabian Peninsula. (b) Specificity of Fingerprints: Does man think that We cannot assemble his bones? Nay, we are able to put together in perfect order (even) the very tips of his fingers. (Surah Qayamah 75:3_4) It is now an established fact that each human being has his own unique fingerprint. It is for this reason that countries like Russia maintain the finger print records of all its citizens. It is another miracle of the Qur’an that it stated this fact long before the human mind could ever conceive. (c) Presence of Sensory Nerves in the Skin: Those who reject Our Signs, We shall soon cast them into the fire. As often as their skins are roasted through, We shall change them for fresh skin, then they may taste the penalty (of fire). For Allah is exalted in Power, Wise. (Surah Nisa 4:56] This verse states that Allah will replace the skin of the inmates of Hell so that they may taste the penalty of Fire again and again. In other words, this verse explains that the feeling or sensation of pain is localised to the skin. Human anatomists have now shown that sensory receptors of pain are located in the skin. Consequently, partial skin burns are very painful as the receptors in deep skin are still intact. On the other hand, complete skin burns are painless 31

as this destroys the receptors nerves as well. It is an evident miracle of the Qur’an that it describes such minute details of anatomy of skin. (d) Sensory Nerves and Intestine: A Parable of the Garden which the righteous are promised… (Can those in such bliss) be compared to such as shall dwell for ever in the fire (of Hell), who shall be given to drink boiling water, that will cut up their intestine (to pieces). [Surah Muhammad 47:15] Professor Keith Moore in his textbook, ‘The Developing Human’ explains this verse as follows: ‘The punishment of cutting the intestine is also consistent with our knowledge of the sensation present in the intestine. Thermal receptors are not present in the intestine. Thus, it is not boiling water alone that is mentioned in this verse. It is also known that if the intestine is perforated, the contents leak into the highly sensitive peritoneal cavity. The somatic receptors in the peritoneal cavity are then stimulated. This leads to sensation of the severest pain in the human body.’ Needless to say, Prophet Muhammad SAW could have possibly possessed or obtained such specific knowledge of the human body: given the time and place of his existence.” 19 (1.4) WHY QUR’AN BECOMES A LIVING MIRACLE FOR THE WHOLE UNIVERSE: “The people of Quraish knew that Mohammed [SAW] was but an illiterate who neither read nor wrote. He did not sit with teachers in schools, nor mixed with the learned. He was raised within a people who knew no book. They were naked [àrin] when it came to scientific inquiry [al- ulum al-àqliyyah]. Allah said, Surely this Qurán declares to the children of Israel most of what they differ in. (Surah "The Ant", 27.76). What it revealed was of the secrets of those who opposed it and what they used to plot. Their deceit was revealed to the messenger of God. It included knowledge from the smallest of particles to cosmic facts the Arabs did not know in general and neither did Mohammed (peace be upon him); most important, what it included about the science of Shariàh and how to deduce laws, the ways to logical argumentation [al- 32

hujaj al-`aqliyyah], the wisdom one derives from the stories of yore, the matters of the hereafter and the best of manners and behavior. It is free of contradiction despite the fact that it is a large book which includes many facts and various arts. "If it were from any other than Allah, they would have found in it many a discrepancy." (Surah "The Women", 4.82) It is a living miracle for it is read everywhere in uniformity, and God has promised to protect it. It is an established argument that, in contrast to other prophets whose miracles disappeared with them, the Qur'an is Mohammed's eternal miracle. Those who read it are not tired of it. Those who hear it are not bothered by it. And those who rehearse it fall in love with it. It includes both proof and proven. Those who understand the meaning know how to derive proof and how to find religious dictum at the same time when they consider both the way it is read and the way it is understood. It is conciseness of words [balaghah] which proves its miraculous character. It is with meaning that one finds God's order and His warning. Learning it by heart [hifdh] has been made easy. The fear that comes to the heart when hearing it and the humbleness that surrounds those reading it are beyond description. 20 (1.5) PROPHECIES IN THE QUR’AN THAT HAVE PROVED TRUE: “There are many predictions both in the Qurán and the authenticated sayings of the Prophet Muhammed [SAW] that have been fulfilled. 1. The Qurán says "Ye shall enter the Sacred Mosque, if Allah wills, secure, heads shaved, hair curt short, and without fear" (48:28). This passage was revealed after the Prophet had been stopped by the Quraish from making 'Umrah (the Minor Pilgrimage) and a treaty was made between the Muslims and pagans at Hudaybia, six years after the Prophet's emigration from Mecca. From this position of weakness, in merely two years the verse was fulfilled, Mecca was captured, and the Muslims performed the pilgrimage, shaving their heads, and some cutting their hair. 33

2. The Qurán says: "Allah has promised to those of you who believe, and do good deeds, that He will surely grant them in the land inheritance of power as He granted it to those before them; that He will establish in authority their religion which He has chosen for them. And that He will change their state after fear to one of security and peace. They will worship Me alone and not associate aught with Me." (24:55) And also: "Say to those who deny faith, soon you will be vanquished." (3:12) and "When comes the help of Allah and Victory, and you see the people enter Allah's religion in multitudes . . ." (110:1-2) The first verse was revealed at a time of the Muslim's weakness, promising the righteous victory, and the second predicting the peoples entering into Islam in crowds, and so it came to pass, after the capture of Mecca, and in the time of the Caliphs Abu Bakr, 'Umar, 'Uthman and 'Ali, who were from the most pious companions of the Prophet, were established by Allah in the land, defeating the Persian and Roman empires, so that Islam was established from Spain to parts of China in a mere twenty years. This, in part, fulfills another prophecy of the Qurán: "It is He who has sent the Messenger with guidance, and the religion of truth, to make it triumphant over all religions." (9:32) Christianity, Judaism, paganism have never regained any lasting dominance, physically and intellectually since the coming of Islam. The secular philosophies of communism and capitalism are in the process of being dealt death blows. At the present rate of growth Islam will over take Christianity by 2025 in terms of numbers. See also Qurán 48:18-21 and 1:13, which promise victory and the taking of booty - which were also fulfilled. 3. The Qurán says: "The Roman Empire has been defeated in a land close by; but they, even after this defeat, will gain victory in a few years. Allah's is the command, in the past and in the future. On that day shall the believers rejoice, with the help of Allah, He helps whom He wills. And He is the mighty and the most Merciful. It is the promise of Allah. Allah never departs from His promise: but most men understand not. They crave for the outer things of life, but of the hereafter they are heedless." (30:1-7) The Eastern Roman (i.e. Byzantine) Empire suffered a massive defeat at the hands of the Persians who captured Jerusalem in 614, and after that Egypt and Syria fell, and Constantinople was laid siege to - (" a land close by "). The pagan Arabs delighted in this, as it seemed to signal to them the success of idolatry over the followers of revelation. When this verse was revealed it seemed impossible that Rome would recover. The word, translated " a few ", is bid'a, which actually means from three to nine years. Ubayy, a pagan Arab, wagered Abu Bakr one hundred camels that this would never occur. By the year 623, Heraclius, the Byzantine Roman Emperor, took to the field and vanquished the Persians in a series of battles, culminating in the battle of Niveveh in 627. Ubayy had been killed, so his relatives paid the dept. At this same time the Muslims had been victorious over the pagan Quraish and were rejoicing, as the Qur'an foretold. 4. In part of a long narration found in the two authoritative books of Hadith, the Prophet was sitting in a garden. 'Uthmaan ibn Afan walked in and the Prophet asked Abu Musa 'Ashari (the narrator) to inform him of the good news of paradise, and also that the people would mutiny against him. The Prophecy was fulfilled in that 'Uthmaan became the leader of the Muslims, and secondly some of the people rose against him and slew him. 34

5. 'Ali ibn Abi Talib, the fourth Rightly Guided Caliph, had also been informed by the Prophet of his assassination in such detail that he knew the man who was going to kill him, and identified him and pointed him out to the people. They asked 'Ali why he did not kill the man and he replied: "Then who will kill me?" The night preceding his assassination 'Ali had come out, and gazed at the sky and said: "By Allah he never told a lie, nor was a lie ever told to him." The next day the same man killed 'Ali, and his blood spilled down his beard, as the Prophet had described. 6. Whilst the Muslims were fighting the Jews in Khyber, after some days of attempting to besiege the fortress, the Prophet said that the next morning he would entrust the flag to a man to whom Allah would give victory. He gave the flag to 'Ali, and the same day the fortress was conquered under Ali's command. 7. The Prophet saw 'Ali and Zubair one day laughing together, and he asked Ali if he loved Zubair. Ali replied: "How could I not love him since he is my nephew and co-religionist." The Prophet asked Zubair the same question, who gave a similar response. The Prophet then told Zubair that he would fight 'Ali, and that he would be the oppressor. So, in the Battle of Jamal, when Ali and Zubair, in opposing camps came face to face. 'Ali reminded Zubair of the incident, and Zubair recalled, and said that he had forgotten, and he immediately left the battle field. So the battle took place as the Prophet had predicted, and Zubair was the oppressor, since Ali was the Rightful Caliph, and to oppose him with violence was wrong. 8. The Prophet said: "The Caliphate will last for thirty years, then there will be a biting kingship." So it happened. The rule of the Rightly Guided Caliphs was exactly thirty years: Abu Bakr for two, 'Umar for ten, 'Uthman for twelve, 'Ali for two and a half and Hassan three and a half. After that evil spread and kingship was established. 9. The Prophet also predicted the capture of Egypt, and told his companions to treat the people well, and that they would seize the treasures of the Persian Chesros (Emperor), who lives in the white palace, all of which they accomplished, and that Suraqa bin Malik (one of the companions) would have the bracelets of Caesar put on his hands. So it happened that some such bracelets fell into the possession of 'Umar and he called Suraqa, and placed the bracelets on him, reminding him of the Prophet's words. 10. A narration in the most authoritative of the Hadith books, Saheeh al-Bukhari, told Auf bin Malik to look for six incidents before the last day: "The first, my death; the second the conquest of Jerusalem; third, an epidemic among them; fourth, the abundance of wealth so that a man would not gladly accept one hundred dinars even if given it; fifth, a trouble that would involve all Arab families without exception; sixth, a treaty with the Christians, which the Christians would violate, etc.. (the hadeeth describes this last event, not yet fulfilled). Jerusalem was captured, and after this in 16 A.H. an epidemic broke out in Umwas and seventy thousand died. Wealth became plentiful, especially during the Caliphate of 'Uthman, and after that in the time of 'Umar ibn AbdulAzziz, when the collectors of zakat found no one poor enough to receive it. Also the rebellious war arose in the time of 'Uthman and became worse after his murder, so none of the Arabs families were not involved in some respect. 11. The Prophet mentioned that the Muslims would conquer both Rome and Constantinople. He 35

was asked which would fall first, and the Prophet said: " The city of Heraclius ", i.e. Constantinople. Constantinople was taken by the Muslims in the fifteenth century. Rome still remains to be conquered, as it will be. So the order is correct, and rest still to be fulfilled. What is noteworthy about these statements of the Prophet is that they were made at a time when no one could imagine that a small city state, permanently under siege by the pagan Arabs, would reach such heights of power and strength, and that these predictions are not couched in some vague terminology open to various interpretations, like the Bible's Book of Revelation's " Beast of 666", and monsters with horns and little horns, or the meanderings of Nostradamus. The language is clear, their assertions direct, and often with specific names and dates. 12. The Prophet also predicted the dividing of the Muslims into many sects and mentioned some of their characteristics. The Prophet mentioned that some people would do to 'Ali what the Christians did to Jesus. This clearly refers to the Shi'a, who exaggerate in love and praise of 'Ali. One of the Shi'a sects, the Nusaria, actually worship him as the manifestation of Allah. The Prophet also mentioned that a group would arise who will deny Allah's Qadr (Divine Decree) and he called them the " Magians of the Ummah ", and so it happened, and they were called the Qadaria. He also mentioned the appearance of those who would claim the Qur'an is created, and of those who would tell people to take only from the Qur'an and ignore the Sunnah (Prophetic Tradition), and these things have all come to pass. The Prophet also predicted that from the tribe of a certain individual a group would arise who would used the verses of Qur'an pertaining to unbelievers on the believers, and that they should be fought and killed. So it happened that the first of the deviant sects to arise was the Khawarij, who said that 'Ali and Muwawia were unbelievers, and whoever did not believe this, then they also were unbelievers, and they would slaughter the Muslims, and they arose from the tribe of Tamim, as the Prophet had said. (1.6) PROPHECIES IN THE HADITHS THAT HAVE PROVED TRUE: 13. The Prophet mentioned that there would be signs forewarning the approach of the last day. Among those that have clearly come to pass are: a. The barefooted bedouins competing in building tall buildings. Today we find in the Arabian 36

Peninsula, the Arabs who used to be impoverished herders of camels and sheep, are competing in building the tallest tower blocks. b. The Mosques would be like palaces. This is clearly the case, even though the Prophet ordered simplicity in the houses of Allah, the mosques have become more and more fantastic, with golden domes, marbled floors, lavish carpets and chandeliers. c. Disappearance of trustworthiness, so much so that one would only be able to say: " I know a trustworthy person in such-and-such town” d. The increase in killing, so that the one who kills does not know why he killed, and the one killed does not know why he was killed. I was recently sent an article from the Washington Post about the rise of gang warfare. Part of the initiation ceremony was for a new gang member (some times as young as eleven) to shoot someone. The second highest cause of death from fifteen to thirty five in the US are gun related. The massacre of civilians in the Vietnam War by American troops who had little idea why they were there, and the increase of such conflicts, is further illustration of the fulfillment of this prophecy. As are the rise of insane mass murders, of children killing children, such as Jamie Bulger... e. The increase of the use of riba (usury/interest) so that no one will able to escape being tainted by it. This clearly the state of the world economy today. f. The enemies of the Muslims dividing the Muslim's wealth and lands between them, the Muslims abandoning jihad, and concerning themselves only with the worldly matters. We have already mentioned this. g. The increase of literacy. h. The decrease of religious knowledge due to the disappearance of scholars. i. The increase of musical instruments, and the Muslims making it lawful even though the Prophet has forbidden them. j. The increase of sexual promiscuity, and new diseases that people had not heard of before spreading amongst them as a consequence of that. This is clear, with the arrival of AIDS, and other previously unheard of viruses. k. Appearance of Dajjals (liars), each claiming to be a Messenger of Allah, while Muhammad is the last messenger. There are numerous examples of this, starting with Musailima, who arose in the time of the Prophet, just before his death, to more modern liars such as Elija Muhammad, founder of the Black American racist movement "The Nation of Islam", and India's pretender Gulam Ahmed of Qadian. l. Nakedness of women while still being dressed. m. The drinking of wine becoming common, and the Muslims making it lawful by calling it another name. 37

n. Shouting in the mosques. o. The worst and most ignorant will become leaders and they will be oppressors. p. A man will obey his wife and disobey his mother, and treat his friends kindly and shun his father. q. Men will wear silk and gold, and the making of it lawful by the Muslims even though the Prophet had forbidden it for the men of his 'Ummah (nation). r. People will abandon the religion for a small worldly gain, and keeping to the religion will be like holding two hot coals. So these are just some of the numerous prophecies of Muhammad [SAW], that have clearly come true, and some have been fulfilled in this age in which we live, all adding weight to the evidence in favour of his claim.” 21 (1.7) TO SUM UP: 38

All the above reasons we suppose are more than enough for us to consider Qur’an as the Word of God, and to treat it as the base of our study. In a way Qur’an promotes education, awareness, knowledge, and emphasizes on humans to travel through the universe to look for His Signs, think and ponder, believe in Him and surrender and act to His Will and purpose that we are here for. He has purposely left the remains and the means for us to discover and unravel the truths that lie beyond in the heavens and the earth. He says: Have they not travelled in the land and seen the nature of the consequence for those who were before them? They were stronger than these in power [Qur'an 30:9] The glorious history of Islamic civilization is an instructive example of the fruits of implementing Islam in society and life. Muslims are justifiably proud of their history, which saw them excel in diverse fields of intellectual endeavour, among them: the establishment of law and justice, advancement of science and technology, enrichment of the humanities and a flourishing of the arts. How is it that a culture of illiterate shepherds achieved ascendancy? The implementation of the Qur'an and the example of the Prophet Muhammad reformed their society into one focused on God-consciousness, truth, justice, compassion and knowledge. The revival of Islamic civilization is linked to a return to the pure teachings of Islam and an appreciation of its rich cultural and intellectual tradition. 22 So now we are in a position to discuss about PROPHETS- who they are, why they are sent and what is the difference between these Prophets and fake Rulers (dajjals) who allow corruption to occur on this earth. In fact this way (Al-Islam) is the Right Way of your Rabb and We have spelled out Our revelations very clearly for the people who use their common sense. [F. Malik Tr. Sura An’am 6:126] References 39

1. Samira Fayyad Khwaldeh, The Most Beautiful Names of Allah, p. 21 2. B. Walker, Foundations of Islam, pages 38,42 3. Al Alim, The Religion of Islam-Quran, The World of Islam 4. Ibn Kathir, Tafsir, note to 2:23, p.163, Volume I 5. Al Alim, The Religion of Islam-Quran, The World of Islam 6. Harun Yahya, The Miracles of Qur’an, Video CD 7. Maurice Bucaille, The Bible the Qur’an and Science, p, p 134_142, 26, Chapter III 8. Maurice Bucaille, The Bible, the Qur’an and Science, p.136_141, CH.III 9. Harun Yahya,The Miracles of Qur’an, Video 10. A.Y.Ali, Al-Alim, Note 3111 to 25:53, and notes 3104 to 25:48, 3106 to 25:49 11. Maurice Bucaille, The Bible, the Qur’an and Science, p.173,174, Ch V 12. Mazhar U. Kazi, Self Evident Miracles of the Holy Quran, p.69_70 13. Harun Yahya, Miracles of the Qur’an, Video 14. A.Y.Ali, note 919 to 6:95 15. M.U.Kazi, Self Evident Miracles of the Holy Qur’an, pp.67 16. A.Y.Ali, note 859 to 6:38 17. Maurice Bucaille, The Bible, the Qur’an and Science, p.191,192, Ch. VI 18. M.U. Kazi, Self Evident Miracles of the Holy Qur’an, p.68,67 19. Dr. M.U.Kazi, Self Evident Miracles of the Holy Qur’an, p.72_74 20. http://www.ummah.org.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=4595 Excerpted from an article written by scholars from al-Azhar, Originally Posted by Abu Mubarak 21. Brother Abdurraheem Green, Material on the Authenticity of the Qurán #4, “Prophecies, Predictions, Science, Surety and the Consequences of Turning Away”. http://www.ummah.org.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=4595 22. http://thetruereligion.org/modules/wfsection/index.php?category=23 40

CHAPTER II: THE PROPHETS, REVELATION AND ADAM’S CREATION IN PARADISE 2.1 Understanding the Meaning of the Prophet (Nabi) and the Messenger (Rasul) 2.1.1 Prophet / Nabi 2.1.2 Messenger / Rasul 2.1.3 Difference between a Prophet and a Messenger 2.1.4 The Warner / Nazeer 2.1.5 The Bearer of glad Tidings / Basheer 2.2 God’s Communing with the Prophets 2.2.1 Means of Revelation: (A) INDIRECT WAHY (i) Inspiration in the heart (ii) Inspiration through the dream (B) DIRECT WAHY (i) From behind the Veil (C) THROUGH THE INTERMEDIATORY (i)Through the Angels 2.2.2 Can the non Prophets receive the Revelation? 2.2.3 Has the Revelation come to an end? 2.3 Who are the Angels? 2.3.1 Angels as Message Bearers of God 2.3.2 Angels as Strengthening the Believers 2.3.3 Angels as executing God’s Orders 41

2.3.4 Angels as Intecessors 2.4 Who are the Jinns and the Devils? 2.4.1 Exixtence; 2.4.2 Abilities; 2.4.3 The Occult 2.5 Who was Iblis? 2.6 Humans: Who are we? 2.6.1 The Story of Human Creation (A) When God informed about Adam-the first man (B) Angels’ Response (i) Angels thought on the basis of the predecessors of Adam? (a) They knew about the Jinns? (b) Or they knew about the Animals? (ii) Angels thought of humans as incapable Vicegerents? 2.6.2 Adam the first Prophet (C) God’s Ordering Prostration for Adam (D) Jinns’ Response (i) Lesson 1 regarding Satan’s Disobedience (ii) Lesson 2 Iblis’ reprieve until the Day of Resurrection (E) Eve’s creation (F) The Paradise for Adam and Eve (iii) Lesson 3 regarding Satan’s deceit (iv) Lesson 4 regarding Allah’s Word (v) Lesson 5 regarding Fate (vi) Lesson 6 regarding Guidance (vii) Lesson 7 regarding Punishment for the followers of Shaytan 42

THE PROPHETS, REVELATION AND ADAM’S CREATION IN PARADISE (2.1) UNDERSTANDING THE MEANING OF THE PROPHET (NABI) AND THE MESSENGER (RASUL): These are some of the Prophets on whom Allah bestowed His favors from among the descendants of Adam and of those whom We carried in the Ark with Nuh, and of the descendants of Ibrahim and Israel, and of those whom We guided and chose. Whenever the Revelations of the Compassionate (Allah) were recited to them, they fell to prostrate and weep. [Qur’an 19:58] Prophethood is not unknown to heavenly revealed religions, such as Judaism and Christianity. In Islam, however, it has a special status and significance. According to Islam, Allah created man for a noble purpose: to worship Him and lead a virtuous life based on His teachings and guidance. How would man know his role and the purpose of his existence unless he received clear and practical instructions of what Allah wants him to do? Here comes the need for prophethood. 23 The universality of prophecy so clearly enunciated in the Qur'an means the universality of tradition, of religion. It means that all orthodox religions come from heaven and are not man- made. It also implies by its comprehensive formulation the presence of Divine revelation not only in the Abrahamic tradition but among all nations. 24 There are several words used in al-Qur’an for the Ambiya as salatu was salaam-such as Nabi, Rasul, Munzir, Mubashir In English the term Prophet is used to denote the Quranic word ‘Nabi’, where as Messenger or Apostle is used to denote the Quranic word: ‘Rasul’. "And We did not send before you any messenger or prophet..." <Qur'an Al-Hajj 22:52> A prophet (nabi) or messenger (rasul) of God is a human being to whom God gives His guidance and whom He charges with the task of conveying that guidance to the people so that they recognise the oneness of God and forbid wrong and enjoin what is right. A prophet and a messenger both speak by divine inspiration or as the interpreter through whom the will of God is expressed. (2.1.1) THE PROPHET/ NABI : A Prophet is sent to communicate to his knowledge of the unseen (supernatural) that Allah (s.w.t.) has informed him about, and is a person gifted with profound moral insight and exceptional powers of expression. 25 43

‘Nabi’ is derived from the word “Naba”, i.e., news, because, a Nabi is “an informed and an informer”. He is an informed because Allah SWT sent revelation to him: <… She (the wife of the Prohet) said "Who told thee this?" He (Prophet SAW) said "He told me who knows and is well-acquainted (with all things).> (Qurán 66:3) He is also an informer on behalf of Allah SWT, telling of Him His revelation: < Announce, (O Muhammad) unto My slaves that verily I am the Forgiving, the Merciful. > (Qurán 15:49) It is also said that “Nubuwwa” (Prophethood) is derived from “Nabwa” (the high ground). The Arabs used the word Nabi for the high ground, they follow as a guide in their travels. 26 (2.1.2) THE MESSENGER/ RASUL : Whereas a messenger is sent with a special mission added to the foundation of prophecy. He is the bearer of a special mission that includes the completion of a plea that, if breached, necessitates destruction or torment. Allah says "...so that people should not have a plea against Allah after them (coming of) messengers. "<Qur'an Al-Nisaa 4:165> 27 Every nation was sent a Rasool. Once their Rasool came, judgement was passed between them with all fairness and they were not wronged in the least. [10:47] The Rasools called for judgement, (and when the judgement was passed) every tyrant opposer of the Truth was disappointed. [14:15] If you send someone on a mission, then he is your Messenger. A Messenger may also be the one who follows up the news of the person who sends him. Therefore Messengers are called so because they are directed by the Almighty Allah : <Then We sent our messengers one after another> (Qurán 23:44) They were sent with certain missions, and are commanded to convey and follow up the messages. It is prevalent among scholars that the role of a “Messenger” is more comprehensive than that of a “Prophet”. 28 (2.1.3) DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A PROPHET AND A MESSENGER: “According to most of the commentators, the designation ‘apostle’ (rasul) is applied to bearers of divine revelations which comprise a new doctrinal system or dispensation. A ‘Prophet’ (nabi), on the other hand, is said to be one, whom God has entrusted with the enunciation of ethical principles on the basis of an already existing dispensation, or of principles common to all divine dispensations. Hence every apostle is a prophet as well, but not every prophet is an apostle.” 29 44

In spite of these definitions there is a great amount of confusion in the minds of the scholars regarding the correct differentiation between the two terms Nabi and Rasul. For example, a book defines: “A Prophet (nabi) is a man who has been inspired with a divine code (Shari’ah), but is not instructed to propagate it. A Messenger (rasul), on the other hand, is a man, who having been inspired with a divine code, and is also ordered to praopagate it.” 30 The above definition of the Nabi has been corrected by the following writer: “First, Almighty Allah SWT said, He has sent Messenegers as well as the Prophets…Never did We send a Messenger or a ‘Prophet…’ Since the difference between the two is the command for conveyance, then the word ‘send’ entails conveyance. Second, abstention from conveyance is concealment of the revelation of All-Mighty Allah SWT, who does not send His revelation to be buried in a person’s heart, and then lost with that person’s death. Third, the Hadith of the Prophet SAW- ‘The Nations were presented to me, and I saw a Prophet with a group of people, and a Prophet with a man or two, and a Prophet with none.’ (This Hadith is narrated by Bukhari, Muslim, At Tirmidhi, and Nasa’i). So the correct definition of ‘Messenger’ is ‘one who was sent a revelation containing a new ordainment’, and that of ‘Prophet’ is one sent to confirm a former ordainment’ 31 Here again, the explanation that the writer gave was correct, but the concluding definition which he calls ‘correct’, is again partially wrong because, the Prophets are not always preceded by the Messenger. For example, the Prophets like Adam AS, Shees AS, Idrees AS came before Nuh AS –the first Messenger/Apostle. In this chain it is Nuh AS, who confirmed the messages of the previous Prophets. So this is true that the Apostle or the Messenger brings in a new revelation, but, this is not correct that ‘the Prophet is sent to confirm the former ordainment’. It is the Apostle/ Messenger, who confirms what the Prophets before him brought: And when came to them an Apostle from Allah confirming what was with them a party of the people of the Book threw away the Book of Allah behind their backs as if (it had been something) they did not know! [Qur’an 2:101] Similarly, another popular misconception, as presented in the words of this writer: 45

“The difference between a messenger and a prophet is that a messenger is one who was given a Divine Law (or a Book), containing a new ordainment, whereas a nabi is one upon whom no book was given, but was sent to confirm a former ordainment. “ Even this view that the Nabi receives no Book, proves to be incorrect in the light of the following Ayahs: [kaana an- naas 'ummah waah.idah fa- bacatha 'allaah an- nabeyen mubashshiren wa- mundhiren wa- anzala maca -hum al- kitaab bi- al- h.aqq li] Mankind were one community, and Allah sent (unto them) Prophets as bearers of good tidings and as warners, and revealed therewith the Scripture with the truth that it might judge between mankind concerning that wherein they differed. [2:213] [wa- 'idh 'akhadha 'allaah methaaq an- nabeyen la- maa 'aataytu -kum min kitaab wa- h.ikmah thumma jaa'a -kum rasol mus.addiq li- maa maca -kum la- tu'minunna bi- -hi wa- la- tans.urunna -hu qaala 'a- aqrartum wa- 'akhadhtum calaa dhaalikum 'is.r -e qaalo aqrarnaa qaala fa- ishhado wa- 'anaa maca -kum min ash- shaahiden] Allah took the covenant with the Prophets, saying: "Now that you have been given the Book and Wisdom; There will come to you a Rasool who will confirm that which is with you; you will have to believe in him and help him in his mission." … [Malik tr. 3:81_82] And remember We took from the Prophets their Covenant as (We did) from thee: from Noah Abraham Moses and Jesus the son of Mary: We took from them a solemn Covenant. [33:7] “The renowned classical scholar Ibn Taymiyah stated, ‘The correct view is that the Messenger is one, who is sent to a disbelieving people, and the Prophet is one who is sent to the believing people with the law of the Messenger who came before him, to teach them and judge between them. The first thing about the message of the messengers was that they all instructed their people towards tawhid, the worship of One God. All the Messengers without exception did this. 32 There are then altogether three grades of prophecy, that of the nabi, the rasul and the ulu'l-'azm. The Prophet (SAW) was at once a nabi, a rasul and an ulu'l-'azm and brought the cycle of prophecy to a close. After him there will be no new Shari'ah or Divine Law brought into the world until the end of time. There are to be no revelations [wahy] after him, for he marks the termination of the prophetic cycle [da'irat al-nubuwwah]. 33 (2.1.4) THE WARNER [NAZEER]: This is yet another word often used in the Qur’an for Ambiya’: 46

Had it been Our Will We could have sent a warner to every center of population. [25:51] The Prophet is no more than ‘a warner and a bearer of glad tidings’, implying that his duty consists only in delivering the message entrusted to him. [M.Asad, not 49 to 11:28, Al Alim] 'am yaqolon iftaraa -hu bal huwa al- h.aqq min rabb -ka li- tundhir qawm(an) maa 'ataa -hum min nadher min qabli –ka lacalla -hum yahtadon Or do they say "He has forged it"? Nay it is the Truth from the Lord that thou mayest admonish a people to whom no warner has come before thee: in order that they may receive guidance. [Qurán 32:3] The word Nazeer, in it’s original sense mean an inviter, be it a Rasul or a Nabi, or any of their deputy, a Khalifa, or a religious scholar (Aalime Deen), which signifies that the message of Tauhid reached every ummah and group. But the word ‘nazeer’ in the Ayah above- translated as “warner”, implies “Rasul” (Apostle). There came no “Rasul”before SAW, does not specifically mean that there came no Prophet to invite them before him, because this has already been specified in the following Ayah that there in no Ummah or jamaát in the world, which has not received any admonisher. li- tundhir qawm(an) maa undhira 'aabaa' -hum fa- hum ghaafilon In order that thou mayest admonish a people whose fathers had received no admonition and who therefore remain heedless (of the Signs of Allah). [Qurán 36:6) The Quraish had not received any Paighambar or Rasul since their great grand father Abraham (AS) and Ishmael (AS). 34 (2.1.5) THE BEARER OF GLAD TIDINGS [BASHEER] Another word used in the Qur’an for Ambiya as Salaatu wassalam is: Verily We have sent thee in truth as a bearer of glad tidings and as a warner: and there never was a people without a warner having lived among them (in the past); And if they reject thee so did their predecessors to whom came their apostles with Clear Signs(bayyinaat) Books of Dark Prophecies (Az-Zabur), and the Book of Enlightenment (Kitabil Muneer); In the end did I punish those who rejected Faith: and how (terrible) was My rejection (of them) [35:24_26] We have truly sent thee as a witness as a bringer of Glad Tidings and as a Warner. [48:8] Thus now, before we proceed to know more about the Prophets, let us first understand, how the Prophets actually received Revelations, Books and Scriptures? What was their mode of their communication with God? 47

(2.2) GOD’S COMMUNING WITH THE PROPHETS: Prophets receive the word of God through revelation and then communicate it to their fellow human beings: 'We have sent thee INSPIRATION, as We sent it to Noah and the messengers after him: We sent INSPIRATION to Abraham, Ismail, Isaac, Jacob and the tribes, to Jesus, Job, Jonah, Harun and Solomon, and to David We gave the Psalms. Of some apostles, We have already told the story, of others We have not and to Moses God spoke direct apostles who gave good news as well as warning, that mankind after (the coming) of the apostles should have no plea against God: for God is exalted in power and ways' (Al-Qur'an 4:163-5) The two words capitalized in the above translation are both derived from the Arabic root 'wahy'. The word awha, from which 'wahy' (revelation) is derived, occurs in a number of shades of meaning in the Qur'an, each of them indicating the main underlying idea of inspiration directing or guiding someone. • Guidance in natural intuition: 'so we sent this inspiration to the mother of Moses . . .' (28: 7). • Guidance in natural instinct: 'and thy Lord taught the bee to build its cells in hills, on trees and in (man's) habitations' (16: 68). • Guidance by signs: 'So Zakaria came out to his people from his chamber: he told them by signs to celebrate God's praises in the morning and in the evening' (19: 11). • Guidance from evil: 'Likewise did we make for every messenger an enemy evil ones among men and jinns, inspiring each other with flowery discourses by way of deception ...' (6: 112). • Guidance from God: 'Remember thy Lord inspired the angels (with the message) ...' (8: 12). The way Allah defined His Messengers and Prophets, this way is called by Allah (SWT) “revelation”. (2.2.1) Means of Revelation: 48

Wahy in the sense of 'revelation' is guidance from God for His creation, brought by the Prophets, who received the word from God through one of the means mentioned in the following Qur'anic verse: 'It is not fitting for a man that God should speak to him except by inspiration*, or from behind a veil, or by sending of a messenger to reveal with God's permission what God wills: for He is Most High, Most Wise' (Al-Qur'an 42: 51). Means of revelation are: • Inspiration, e.g. in a dream (see 37: 102, where it is related that Ibrahim receives guidance in a vision, while asleep, to sacrifice his son). • Speech hidden away (see 27: 8, where it is related that God spoke to Musa from the fire). • Words (speech) sent through a special messenger from God (see 2:97, where it is related that God sent the Angel Gabriel as the messenger to Muhammad to reveal His message). 35 In the above verse three ways of Inspiration are mentioned: (A) INDIRECT WAHY Wahy (Inspiration) is a suggestion thrown by Allah into the heart or mind of man, by which man understands the substance of the Message, whether it is a command or a prohibition, or an explanation of a great truth. 36 It is of two kinds: (i) Inspiration in the heart: The first is that by direct address to the heart of the Prophet to whom Revelation is intended, in such a way that the person concerned shall have no doubt that what is in his heart is from Allah (SWT). As in the authentic volume of Hadith of Ibn Hibban that the Prophet (SAW) said: “Allah (SWT) breathed into my heart that none will die unless he (she) has consumed his (her) livelihood and lived his (her) life span, so fear Allah (SWT) and generalize in what you ask from Him”. (ii) Revelation through the Dreams: Ibn Al-Jawzi said that “Revelation” in the former verse means “revelation during sleep!” What Ibn Jawzi explained is no doubt included in revelation because the Prophetic dreams are always true. That is why Abraham attempted to slaughter his son when he saw that in a dream and considered that he saw a command from Allah. Allah (SWT) says: <And when he [his son] 49

was old enough to walk with him, he said: “O my son! I have seen in a dream that I am slaughtering you [offering you in sacrifice to Allah]. So look what you think!” He said: “O my father! Do that which you are commanded, Insha Allah [If Allah wills,] you shall find me of As- Sabiroon [the patient]. Then when they had both submitted themselves [to the Will of Allah], and he had laid him prostrate on his forehead [or on the side of his forehead for slaughtering]; We called out to him: Ö Abraham! You have fulfilled the dream!” Verily thus do We reward the Muhsinoon [good-doers].”> (Qurán 37: 102-105) 37 (B) DIRECT WAHY Verbal or literal inspiration, by which the actual words of Allah are conveyed in human language (i) When God Speaks from behind the veil: Not of course a material veil, but the veil of light. Muslim relates a tradition that the Prophet said: “His veil is Light: were He to withdraw it, then would the august splendours of His Countenance surely consume every thing that comes within His Sight”. 38 as in the case of Moses (AS): <And when Moosa [Moses] came at the time and place appointed by Us, and his Rabb [Allah] spoke to him…”> (Qurán 7:143) Allah (SWT) also spoke to Adam (AS): <He said: “O Adam! Inform them of their names…”> (Qurán 2:33) Allah (SWT) also spoke to the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) at the night of the Ascension to the Heavens. 39 (ii) When God speaks without any veil: In the Sahih, it is recorded that the Messenger of Allah SAW said to Jabir bin Abdullah, may Allah be pleased with him: ‘Allah never speaks to anyone except from behind a veil, but He spoke to your father directly’ (Tuhfat al Ahwadhi 8:360) 40 (C) THROUGH THE INTERMEDIARY (i) Revelation through the angels: By the sending of a Messenger “or Rasul: i.e., the angel Gabriel, through whom the revelations were given to the holy Prophet.” 41 And this is what is meant by Allah (SWT) in the verse: <…Or [that] He sends a Messenger to reveal what He wills by His leave…”> (Qurán 42:51) The Messenger is Gabriel (AS), but may be another in only a few cases. 42 (2.2.2 ) Can the Non Prophets receive the Revelation? 50

Wahy Nubuwwat is revelation exclusive to prophets. A man cannot be a prophet unless he receives wahy nubuwwat. Wahy Nubuwwat is closed after Holy Prophet Muhammad: not even one word of it can come. So no rasul (messenger) or nabi (prophet) can come after him. And it is not wahy nubuwwat but wahy wilayat received by the saints (auliya) through the Prophethood of the Holy Prophet Muhammad due to their perfect following of him. “Then considering that the mother of Moses received sure revelation, and by fully believing in it she cast her baby in the place of destruction… Likewise, Mary also received sure revelation…43 as Allah’s revelations to the disciples: < And when I [Allah] revealed to Al- Hawariyoon [the disciples] [of Ísa (Jesus)] to believe in Me and My Messenger…> (Qurán 5:111) And to Moses’ (AS) mother: <And We inspired the mother of Moosa [Moses]: [[telling]: “Suckle him [Moosa (Moses)]…”> (Qurán 28:7) And it may be in the form of signs as the Qurán has called Zachariya’s allusion to his people “revelation”: < Then he came out to his people from Al-Mihrab [a praying place or a private room] and he told them by signs to glorify Allah’s Praises in the morning and in the afternoon.> (Qurán 19:11) 44 (2.2.3) Has the Revelation Come to an end? Sahih Bukhari and Muslim mention Abu Hurairah (RA) narrating, “nothing is left of the prophethood except Mubashshirat”. Narrated Abu Huraira: I heard Allah's Apostle saying, "Nothing is left of the prophetism except Al-Mubashshirat." They asked, "What are Al- Mubashshirat?" He replied, "The true good dreams (that conveys glad tidings)." 45 [Sahih al Bukhari hadith: 9:119] Yahya related to me from Malik from Zayd ibn Aslam from Ata ibn Yasar that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him grant him peace, said: “All that will be left of prophecy after me are the Mubashshirat.” They said: “What are the Mubashshirat, Messenger of Allah?” He said: “The true dreams, which a man who is salih sees or which is shown to him- is a forty sixth part of prophecy”. [Maliks Muwatta, Book 52 Visions, Hadith 3] (Hadith Software) 46 Revelation is defined as a prompt and hidden way of information, whatever be the reasons. In many places in the Qurán the word “revelation” is mentioned to mean a secret way of informing not known to mankind, by which All-Mighty Allah (SWT) has told those He has chosen from amongst His slaves the knowledge and teachings. 47 51

In reality the termination of the prophetic cycle does not mean that all possibility of contact with the Divine order has ceased. Whereas revelation [wahy] is no longer possible, inspiration [ilham] remains always as a latent possibility. Whereas the cycle of prophecy [da'irat al- nubuwwah] has come to an end, the cycle of wilayat [da'irat al-wildyah], which for want of a better term may be translated as the 'cycle of initiation' and also sanctity, continues. Actually wilayah means the presence of this inner dimension within Islam which the Prophet inaugurated along with a new Shari'ah and which will continue to the end of time. Thanks to its presence, man is able to renew himself spiritually and gain contact with the Divine although a new revelation is no longer possible. Far from there being a need for any new religion, which at this moment of time can only mean a pseudo-religion, the revelation brought by the Prophet contains in itself all that is needed to fulfill in every way the religious and spiritual needs of Muslims, from the common believer to the potential saint.48 (2.3) WHO ARE THE ANGELS? The Arabic word for angel is ‘malak’, of which the plural form is ‘mala’ika’. The root from which the word is derived is’alk’ or ‘aluka’, meaning risala or the bearing of messages. A report from Aisha [RA], according to which the holy Prophet SAW said, that the jinn are created from naar (fire), and the angels are created from nur (light). In Holy Qur’an, angels are spoken of as messengers (rusul, pl. of rasul) flying on wings (‘ajniha’, pl. of ‘janah’) (in 35:1). The wing here, [may be] a symbol of power which enables [them] to execute their functions with all speed. [because] In Arabic, the word ‘janah’ is used in a variety of senses. In a bird, it is the wing, the two sides of a thing are called janahain or two janahs, and in men, his hands are spoken of as janah. ‘Jibril’ according to Ikrama, is composed of ‘Jibr’, meaning abd or servant, and ‘il’ meaning God (Bu.65, sura 2:6). The same authority says that Mikail (Michael), also has the same meaning, where mik bears the significance of abd [or servant]. (2.3.1) Angels as Message bearers of God: It was an angel Gabriel [Jibreel] by name, who brought revelation to the Holy Prophet [SAW] (in 2:97, 26:193,194), and the prophets before him (4:163)... Gabriel is mentioned too as Ruh al Amin or the faithful Spirit (26:193, 194); and Ruh al Qudus, or the Holy Spirit (16:102). In all three places, Gabriel or the faithful Spirit, or the Holy Spirit, is said to have revealed the Qur’an to the holy Prophet [SAW]. The revelation to the Prophets that appeared befor him, is said to have been granted, in a similar manner (4:163). In Hadith, Gabriel is spoken as Namus al akbar, or the Great Angel, who is entrusted with secret messages, and the same Namus, is said to have appeared to Moses (Bu. 1:1). 52

These verses, therefore lead us to the conclusion that the laws of nature find expression through the angels. It is due to this function of theirs that they are called rusul (messengers) (22:75, 35:1). God speaks to His prophets through Gabriel, and is thus called a rasul (42:51). As the angel is an immaterial being, the Prophet [SAW] sees him sometimes in the shape of a man, but sometimes ‘filling the whole horizon’ (Bukhari 59:7). Once he saw his six hundred ajniha, which no doubt, stand for immense power. On another occasion he saw him in the cloud (Bu. 59:6). (2.3.2) Angels as strengthening the believers: The same angel is mentioned as strengthening the Prophets (2:87) and the believers (58:22); while angels are generally spoken of as descending on believers and comforting them (41:30); Thrice it is related in the holy Qur’an that the angelic hosts sent to help the Muslims were not seen by the human eye. (2.3.3) Angels as Executing God’s Orders: They cause to die believers (16:32), and also non-believerrs (4:97, 16:28); They write down the deeds of men (28:10, 12). These angels are called Kiram al Katibeen (honourable recorders) (50:17, 18). ‘There are angels following him closely, before him and behind him, who guard him by Allah’s Command’ (13:10,11); The Hadith speaks also of the angel of birth, that is, an angel appointed for every man, when He quickens the mother’s womb (Bu. 59:6). They also execute divine punishment against the wicked (42:27). (2.3.4) Angels as Intercessors? The angels celebrate the praise of their Lord, and ask forgiveness for those on earth. (42:5) ‘Those on earth’ include both the believer and the unbeliever. [But Allah says:] …And how many an angel, is there in the heavens whose intercession does not avail at all except after Allah has given the permission to whom He pleases, and chooses. (53:26) Now, intercession is really a prayer to God on behalf of the sinners on the Day of Judgement. But we are told that the angels pray for men, even in this life. As regards men generally the angels pray for their forgiveness, so that the punishment in respect of their evil deeds, may be averted; as regards the faithful, they lead them to make progress spiritually. Thus it will be seen that the angels’ connection with man grows stronger, as he advances in righteousness. 49 53

(2.4) WHO ARE THE JINNS AND THE DEVILS? “The root meaning of janna yajannu, in the active voice ‘is to be cover or hide’ as in 6:76. Some people say that the jinn therefore are the hidden qualities or capacities in man; others that it is wild or jungle folk hidden in the jungle or forests. I think, from a collation and study of the Qur’anic passages, that the meaning is simply ‘a spirit’ or an invisible or hidden force. In folklore stories and romances, like the Arabian Nights, they were personified, into fantastic forms.” 50 According to the Arabs, “Jinn” is such a thing which cannot be seen. As Angels are also not visible to the naked eye, Arabs call them too as Jinns. As the Paradise too is hidden from our view, therefore Arabs call the Paradise as ‘Jannat’. According to Abdul Wahid bin Mufti, as Jinns were created of fire and smoke, some are good and some are bad. According to Majid uddin Hambli, God created ‘Nar-e-Samun’, which is fire without smoke, and from this God created the Jinn, and called him “Maarij”, then created his wife called “Marjah”, and through them the line of Jinns began. The body of Jinns is similar to human soul. They have got the power to change form and appearance. They eat, drink, desire women. They live on the earth. Things under their control are things that grow, like trees, grass, animals, birds, and which are found in earth like gold, silver, iron, etc. From these, those who trouble God’s creation are called Devils. 51 “Even as a scientist I believe that there are many creations about which man has absolutely neither any knowledge nor the ability to prove their existence with the 54

sensors we have as instruments for detection. The electromagnetic spectrum of Energy spans a huge range and man has been able to use only part of that spectrum. Even our eyes which can detect the visible portion of the EM spectrum have a very limited range of sensing these extremely small electromagnetic- waves of light whose wavelength ranges approximately between 400 nm (violet) to 700 nm (deep-red) [ a "nm" or "nano-meter" is one-billionth part of a "meter" - unit of length, designated to express wavelengths of light and other electromagnetic radiation]. Even our eyes cannot detect Ultra-violet or infra-red radiation. Thus to completely discard existence of a special creation just because our senses cannot perceive it is a folly not only from a religious point of view but even from scientific point of view as well. Unfortunately certain people and even a Muslim scientist in his book has ridiculed people who believe in Jinns and this has caused a great deal of chaos in the faith of many believers. This is because their fundamental understanding of Quran due to "lack of Arabic knowledge" is faulty and they tend to support the point of view of the agnostics or non- believers who reject certain concepts because their minds can neither comprehend nor accept their existence. If they can believe a huge number like "infinity" then they must understand that the word of Allah is true above man's limited understanding of the world and the universe. Ask these sceptics to explain what they really know about "infinity." Before the invention of "automatic garage door opener" or "remote control for TV" could any one believe the existence of electromagnetic waves and how man has been able to use them for control, like the creatures before 20th century.” 52 O.K., then coming back to the point, let us see what Allah says in the holy Qur’an about Jinns: I created the jinn and humankind only that they might worship Me. [Qur'an 51:56] (2.4.1) Existence: The Jinn are beings created with free will, living on earth in a world parallel to mankind. The Arabic word Jinn is from the verb 'Janna' which means to hide or conceal. Thus, they are physically invisible from man as their description suggests. This invisibility is one of the reasons why some people have denied their existence. However, (as will be seen) the affect which the world of the Jinn has upon our world, is enough to refute this modern denial of one of Allah's creation. The origins of the Jinn can be traced from the Qur'an and the Sunnah. Allah says: "Indeed We created man from dried clay of black smooth mud. And We created the Jinn before that from the smokeless flame of fire" (Surah Al-Hijr 15:26-27) Thus the Jinn were created before man. As for their physical origin, then the Prophet (saws) has confirmed the above verse when he said: "The Angels were created from light and the Jinn from smokeless fire" [ Muslim - Eng. Trans. Vol. 4, p.1540, No.7134]. It is this description of the Jinn which tells us so much about them. Because they were created from fire, their nature has generally been fiery and thus their relationship with man has been built upon this. Like humans, they too are required to worship Allah and follow Islam. Their purpose in life is exactly the same as ours, as Allah says: "I did not create the Jinn and mankind except to worship Me" (Surah Ad-Dhariyat 51:56) 55

Jinns can thus be Muslims or non-Muslims. However, due to their fiery nature the majority of them are non-Muslims. All these non-Muslim Jinns form a part of the army of the most famous Jinn, Iblis- the Shaytan 53. Consequently, these disbelieving Jinns are also called Shaytans (devils). As for the Jinns who become Muslims, did so in the time of the Prophet (saws) when a group of them were amazed by the recitation of the Qur'an. Allah orders the Prophet to tell the people of this event: "Say (O' Muhammed): It has been revealed to me that a group of Jinn listened and said; 'Indeed we have heard a marvellous Qur'an. It guides unto righteousness so we have believed in it, and we will never make partners with our lord'" (Surah Al-Jinn 72:1-2) In many aspects of their world, the Jinn are very similar to us. They eat and drink, they marry, have children and they die. The life span however, is far greater then ours. Like us, they will also be subject to a Final Reckoning by Allah the Most High. They will be present with mankind on the Day of Judgement and will either go to Paradise or Hell. (2.4.2) Abilities: That which clearly distinguishes the Jinn from mankind, are their powers and abilities. Allah has given them these powers as a test for them. If they oppress others with them, then they will be held accountable. By knowing of their powers, we can often make sense of much of the mysteries which go on around us. One of the powers of the Jinn, is that they are able to take on any physical form they like. Thus, they can appear as humans, animals trees and anything else. Over the last few years the interest in the subject of aliens and UFO's has become heightened. Programmes such as the X-files and the Outer limits have increased the popularity of the theory that aliens exist. Thousands of people have sighted strange looking creatures all over the world. These sightings however, have still not proven substantially that aliens exist. Rather - and it seems more plausible all the sightings of such creatures were just Jinns parading in different forms. So the next time you see something that looks like E.T, its most probably just a wicked Jinn trying to scare and confuse you! The ability to possess and take over the minds and bodies of other creatures is also a power which the Jinn have utilised greatly over the centuries. This however, is something which has been prohibited to them as it is a great oppression to possess another being. Human possession is something which has always brought about great attention. But the true knowledge of this subject is rare amongst the people. Over the last 3 decades the subject of possession has become very commercialised. During the 70's films such as The Exorcist and Rosemary's Baby were used to educate people about possession. However, because such institutions (the film industry) were heavily influenced by Christianity, knowledge of the subject was non-existent. Rather then educate people about Jinn possession, films such as The Exorcist just tended to scare the living daylights out of us 54! Only through Islam can we understand such a phenomena. We know as Muslims, that Jinns possess people for many reasons. Sometimes it is because the Jinn or its family has been hurt accidentally. It could be because the Jinn has fallen in love with the person. However, most of the time possession occurs because the Jinn is simply malicious and wicked. For this reason we have been told by the Prophet (saws) not to loiter in those places where the Jinns reside, e.g. graveyards, ruins, deserts, market places etc. We have also been commanded to recite the Qur'an frequently in our houses as the Prophet (saws) said: "Indeed, the shaytan flees from the house in which Surah Al-Baqarah (the 2nd chapter of the Qur'an) is recited" [ Tirmidhee]. 56

If a person does become possessed, then the name of Allah has to be used in expelling the Jinn. If we look at the practice of the Prophet and his companions, we find many duas (supplications) to exorcise the Jinn. All these duas invoke Allah to help the possessed person. How contrary this is to many modern-day exorcists. Many exorcists, Muslim and non-Muslim, often invoke the names of others besides Allah to exorcise the Jinn 55. When the Jinn does leave, these people believe that their way was successful. However, this is a ploy of the Jinn, as it knows that if it obeys the exorcist, then it has succeeded in making him worship others besides Allah i.e. commit shirk. The Jinn often returns when the exorcist leaves, as it knows that nothing except the words of Allah can stop it from oppressing others. It is not only humans which are possessed, but also animals, trees and other objects. By doing this, the evil Jinn hope to make people worship others besides Allah. The possession of idols is one way to do this. Not so long ago the world-wide phenomenon of Hindu idols drinking milk, shocked the world. From Bombay to London, Delhi to California, countless idols were lapping up milk. Ganesh 56 the elephant god, Hanuman the monkey god and even Shiva lingam, all seemed to guzzle down the milk as if there was no tomorrow! Unfortunately people were taken in by this (including Muslims) and many flocked to feed (?) the Hindu gods. Anyone who knows about Jinn possession, will undoubtedly know that this is a classic attempt to make people commit shirk. And it worked, as many people started to worship these lifeless pieces of wood and marble. Anyone with half a brain would say to themselves, 'why on earth does a god need to be fed?!! Surely if Ganesh, Hanuman or Shiva were divine then they wouldn't need feeding?' However, such common sense seemed to be lacking as the Jinns played havoc with these gullible people. (2.4.3) The Occult: Through their powers of flying and invisibility, the Jinn are the chief component in occult activities. Voodoo, Black magic, Poltergeists, Witchcraft and Mediums can all be explained through the world of the Jinn. Likewise, so can the illusions and feats of magicians. Because the Jinn can traverse huge distances over a matter of seconds, their value to magicians is great. In return for helping them in their magic, the Jinns often ask for the magicians to sell their souls to them and even to Iblis. Thus the magicians take the Jinn and Iblis as lords besides Allah. In our day, some of the feats performed by magicians and entertainers are without doubt from the assistance of the Jinn. Making the Statue of Liberty disappear, flying across the Grand Canyon and retrieving a ship from the Bermuda Triangle57, have all been done by the Jewish magician David Copperfield. There is NO way that a man could do such things without the assistance of the Jinn. It would not be surprising therefore, if David Copperfield had sold his soul to Iblis himself. Because of their involvement with the Jinn, and its result in shirk, the Prophet (saws) said: "The prescribed punishment for the magician is that he be executed by the sword" [ Tirmidhee]. Some may argue that this is barbaric, but if, the likes of David Copperfield truly had powers, then they could just put their heads back on again!! One of the most frequent activities associated with the Jinn, is fortune telling. Before the advent of the Prophet (saws) fortune-tellers and soothsayers were wide spread. These people would use their associates from the Jinn to find out about the future. The Jinns would go to the lowest heaven and listen to the Angels conversing amongst themselves about events of the Future which they heard from Allah. The Jinns would then inform the fortune-tellers. This is why before the time of the Prophet (saws) many fortune-tellers were very accurate in their predictions. However, upon the Prophet's arrival the heavens were guarded intensely by the Angels, and any Jinn who tried to listen was attacked by meteors (shooting stars): 57

"And We have guarded it (the heavens) from every accursed devil, except one who is able to snatch a hearing and he is pursued by a brightly burning flame" (Surah Al-Hijr 15:18) The Prophet (saws) also said: "They (the Jinn) would pass the information back down until it reaches the lips of a magician or forrtune-teller. Sometimes a meteor would overtake them before they could pass it on. If they passed it on, before being struck, they would add to it, a hundred lies" [ Bukhari - Eng. Trans. Vol.7, p.439, No.657]. Thus, it is clear from this as to how fortune-tellers get predictions of the future right. It is also evident as to why they get so many wrong. Men like Nostradamus58 are an example, as some of his predictions of the future were correct whilst many were completely wrong. Unfortunately, the amount of fortune telling which occurs amongst the Muslims is also increasing. By visiting Muslim lands such as Morocco, one is able to see as to how much inter Jinn-fortune-teller activity there really is. If you look up at the sky on a clear night in Morocco, you will see the heavens ablaze with shooting stars! A clear display of the devils being chased away from the heavens. Fortune-tellers also operate through the Qareen. The Qareen is the Jinn companion which is assigned to every human being. It is this Jinn which whispers to our base desires and constantly tries to divert us from righteousness. Because the Qareen is with a person all his life, it knows all that has happened to the person from the cradle to the grave. By making contact with the Qareen, the fortune-teller is thus able to make out that it is he who knows about the person. He looks in his crystal ball or the palm of a person and proceeds to amaze him with knowledge which no one else knows 59. The severity of going to a fortune-teller is such that the Prophet (saws) said: "The prayer of one who approaches a fortune-teller and asks him about anything, will not be accepted for forty days or nights" Reported by Muslim - Eng. Trans. Vol.4, p.1211, No.5540] and: "Whosoever approaches a fortune-teller and believes in what he says, has disbelieved in what was revealed to Muhammed" [Reported by Ahmed] The effects of the Jinn are not just limited to fortune-tellers. Other activities such as oujia boards and seances, which are used to contact the dead, are manipulated by the Jinn. 'Are you there Charlie? Speak to us Charlie!!' are the sort of words spoken by anxious relatives (names are obviously different!) seeking to make contact with their loved ones. And it is when the Jinn starts to talk and communicate as 'Charlie', that the people are truly fooled 60. One of the biggest manipulations of the Jinn is through visions. Through these visions the Jinns are more likely to lead people away from the worship of Allah then any other way. When a person sees a vision in front of his eyes it is something which is very hard to explain away. Only by having knowledge of the world of the Jinn and conviction in Allah, can a person fight such a trial. The countless numbers of visions of Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary over the centuries has been a popular choice for the devils. It almost seems as if leading Christians astray is the most easiest trick for the Jinns! Not only are Christians fooled by these visions, but often the Jinns possess and begin to talk from their voices. To the Christians this is known as the tongues of the Angels and thus a proof for their faith. However, the amount of unintelligible nonsense and rubbish which is heard is a clear proof that this is in fact the tongues of the devils! For other people, visions of their parents or relatives are commonplace. By taking on the form of peoples parents, the Jinns can convince people that the souls of dead people still mix with the people of the earth. This is why so many people believe in ghosts. The onslaught of satanic visions has also hit the Muslims. Many Muslims claim to have seen visions of the Prophet Muhammed (saws) and even Allah! By doing this, Shaytan is able to lead 58

astray the weak Muslims. Through such visions, Muslims are often told that the commands of Islam are not applicable to them. The Jinns tell them that Prayer, Fasting, Hajj etc. are not obligatory for them. It is a great deception and unfortunately one which has been very effective. The extent of satanic visions still continues to this day. The recent death of Diana Princess of Wales sparked off great love and adoration for this woman. In fact the grief of the British people was such, that it was as if Diana was something divine. No sooner had the mourning of Diana reached its peak, that visions of her were already being seen at Hampton Court Palace! If these visions did occur, the desire of Iblis and his army of Jinn to capitalise on this event, was evident. Such visions are clear attempts by Iblis to lead mankind away from the path of Allah 61. The world of the Jinn is one which is both sinister and intriguing. By knowing of this world we can explain many of the mysteries and issues which bother us. By doing this we can avoid the extremes which the people have gone to; nothing being more extreme then worshipping others besides Allah. By learning the Tawheed of Allah, we defend ourselves from these hidden allies of Iblis: "Indeed he (Iblis) and his tribe watch you from a position where you cannot see them" (Surah Al-A'raf 7:27) By becoming true Muslims and followers of Islam, the fear of Iblis, Jinns and anything else will leave us - nothing will touch the Believer unless Allah wills.” 62 (2.5) WHO WAS IBLIS? Ibn Abbas said that Iblis was a jinn and that he had once been the keepers of Paradise, with Iblis the most honourable and the most learned and the most pious of them. In one narration his name was Azazil and in another narration he said it had been Al Harith. Ibn Masud, Ibn Abbas and a group of companions of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said that Iblis had been the head of angels in the worldly heavens. 63 59

Allah had created the Jinns some 1.25 million years before Adam AS, and sent them to earth. Then when their population increased to such an extent, that there remained no place on earth, Allah allowed them to live in the air, and some Jinns at the first heaven, i.e., Iblis and his descendants. Later, as the land got vacated, and there remained no one to call God’s name on land, Jinns asked the permission to go to land. When Allah granted the permission, some time later, they started to do great evil on land. Therefore Allah started to send His Messengers for the Jinns. But all the 800 Apostles were murdered. According to Ka’ab Ahbaar, the first Apostle was Amir Bin Umair bin Aljaan. When, after all 800 Messengers, had been sent and killed, Allah ordered the Devils / Jinns, at the first heaven, to go the earth and kill the Jinns on earth. Iblis was the head of this group of devils. After this, most of the time of Iblis was spent in praying Allah. Impressed by this, Allah called him to Second heaven. Angels requested Allah to make him at par with Angels. Allh granted this. He continued this way and reached the third, fourth, until he reached the seventh heaven. On Rizwan AS request to Allah, he entered the Paradise. Some Jinns who were spared killing from Iblis, continued to live on earth. They remained on path for some time, and then again got wrong. On this Iblis asked the permission of Allah to guide the Jinns on earth with some Angels.. All the bad Jinns were wiped out of earth, and God declared Iblis as the Khalifa on earth. Now Iblis was so powerful that sometimes he was seen praying on earth and sometimes on the seventh heaven, and sometimes in the Paradise. This led him to pride. Some angels happen to come across the ‘Lauhe Mahfuz’, and read in it, that some close slave of Allah is about to be engrossed in Allah’s Curse. As pride came in the nature of Iblis, Allah told his angels that He is about to create human being from the mud, and commanded everyone, to prostrate it when this is done. Everyone obeyed except Iblis. 64 (2.6) HUMANS: WHO ARE WE? Here we are going in a sequence because there is a strong link among all these-God, angles, jinns, devils and humans. Why we live on a planet that is just right for our survival? And why other planets around us, at present, of how much we know, cannot let us survive there? May be we can, some time in future with the resources that God has produced for us, and that can happen only when God makes it possible for us. 60

Whenever we have progressed on earth, that is due to the geniuses of expertise and knowledge which God granted for us. Whenever the Prophets of God came on earth, they brought knowledge of the Word of God that helped us prosper in this world and the world to come Insha Allah. That is a wrong perspective that people keep regarding Islam that it debars men from improving in the fields of sciences. What Islam negates is materialism, getting so much consumed in the worldly life that we forget the purpose of our life; that we forget fearing Allah; that we forget what we have is due to God’s blessings upon us; and that what we haven’t got is due to our own faults and weaknesses. Let us begin the story from where we left in the last few sections. (2.6.1)THE STORY OF HUMAN CREATION: (A) When God informed about Adam- the first man: Behold thy Lord said to the angels: "I will create a vicegerent [Khalifa] on earth..." [Qur’an: 2:30] The term ‘Khalifa’ in Ayah 2:30, has two interpretations: (i) “According to Ibn Abbas, human beings will succeed each other generation after generation “, (as being ‘successors to previous people who have forfeited their rights by wrong doing 65. We humans ‘are spoken of as Khalaif-al-ard’ in 6:165, 27:62 and 35:39. 66) He is the One Who has made you the inheritors of the earth (khalaif al ard) and raised some of you in ranks over others so that He may test you in what He has given you. Surely your Rabb is swift in retribution; yet He is also very Forgiving, Merciful." [6:165] (ii) “According to Ibn Mas’ud, Allah appointed Adam and his children in the position of responsibility to apply the laws of Allah on earth 67“, (as was the responsibility of every Prophet sent, and that was to judge the disputes of it’s people in accordance with the God given law existing in their times. We shall see in the forthcoming chapters, how Allah sent Prophets one after another to the Children of Israel, but when they refused to follow their orders, Allah took the office of rulership from them and gave it to the Arabs, from where Muhammad SAW came. The Israel Arab conflict that we see today in the Middle East is actually dominating the pages of history and also the pages of al Qur’an., not since Muhammad SAW came in the 7th century, but the Jewish myth of always considering the mselves to be the ‘Chosen people of God’ has prevailed since the times of the Prophet Jacob, who was named as Israel. His children or the tribes, and the generations that followed are called the ‘Children of Israel’ in Qur’an, who have continuously committed atrocities against their Prophets, and tried to flay God’s laws.) 61

He it is that has made you inheritors in the earth: if then any do reject (Allah) their rejection (works) against themselves… They swore their strongest oaths by Allah that if a warner came to them they would follow his guidance better than any (other) of the Peoples: but when a warner came to them it has only increased their flight (from righteousness)… Now are they but looking for the way the ancients were dealt with? But no change wilt thou find in Allah's way (of dealing)… Do they not travel through the earth and see what was the end of those before them, though they were superior to them in strength? [35:39, 42_44] Nay! (O Muhammad) - by your Rabb – they (the People of the Book) will never be true believers until they accept you as a judge in their disputes, then they do not find any resentment in their hearts against your verdicts and accept them with complete submission. [4:64] Qurtubi also said that the Angels supposed Adam to be a “person who would judge disputes that occur between people, forbidding them from injustice and sin.” 68 But from both the interpretations (i) and (ii), we can readily conclude that man has to act, or must act as the representative of God on earth- speaking what God told us to speak, and judge as God wanted us to judge. That is, if our leaders are corrupt, and serve the devils instead of God, we should ask them to be servants of God rather than being gods themselves. We shall discuss this subject later also as the situation will demand, because Ruling today, in the present world has becaome a curse, and is driving the evil forces to dominate the world. It is actually the war of “Good and Evil”, or “God and Devil”, and not the war of divided factions / religions, as we assume that to be because we have divided each other into separate religious groups. Allah says in Qur’an: Your God is One God. Serve Him”; “Your Religion is One Religion”; “Be not divided”; “Do not break your affairs of unity”, and so on because it will be devils victory and our defeat. Let us proceed to the next part of the story, which too is full of information. (B) Angels’ Response: So the angels responded to Adam’s vicegerency as follows: ,,, They (Angels) said: ‘Wilt thou place therein one who will make mischief therein and shed blood? Whilst we do celebrate Thy praises and glorify Thy holy (name)? ...’ [2:30] (i) Angels thought on the basis of the predecessors of Adam? In the first meaning of Khalifa, the above Ayah is great significance and interest, for the thinkers who are curious to know more about the previous life forms which existed before humans arrived on earth. Who were the beings that preceded us and caused mischief on earth? It is said by Qatadah that the angels had observed other creatures living on earth before Adam- like jinn. 69 (a) They knew about the Jinns? 62

Abdullah Ibn Umar said that the Jinn had existed for about 2000 years before Adam, and then shed blood. Therefore Allah, sent on them the army of angels that drove them out to the depths of the seas. 70 So Angels perhaps thought, howcome humans play such a role when the Jinns too failed to achieve so? Angels and humans both have: “involuntory subservience to the Will of God “71, i.e., they are not forced to follow God’s orders, but shown two ways, that they must select to prosper, or to ruin their own selves. The Angels, on the other hand, were created with voluntory subservience to God, Thus such a response. “The statement the angels uttered was not a form of disputing with Allah, nor was out of envy for the children of Adam. This is only a question for the sake of learning about the wisdom of that, as if they said: Our Lord! What is the wisdom of creating such creatures since they will cause trouble in the earth and spill blood? (At Tabari 1:464).” (b) Or they knew about the Animals? The earth was full of endangered animals before humans arrived. One such very famous giant animal is a Dinosaur. The Dinosaurs were wiped out of this earth some 65 million years ago on God’s Command. Wild guessers may go to any extents to find out who our predecessors were? One such interpretation was given by a brother in a discussion group on the net: “Clearly these verse, indicates that the angels, had suggested or doubted that the new creation (man) might end up creating mischief and shed blood on earth, they could only make this implication, based on some other creation that had been earlier created by God, that had or is dwelling on earth. We know from, whatever evidence we have found that the dinosaurs were huge and they would have caused a lot of damage and bloodshed on earth. (you only need to view the movie Jurassic park to get an idea of this) Imagine if man had to co-exist with this creature's, we will never be able to build anything on the face of this earth, maybe we will have to live underground. Once man was created, and if he were to be the vicegerent on earth, you will agree that the dinosaurs had to be removed for we cannot co-exist with these creatures roaming around. Current knowledge also reveals that, a layer of material caused the extinction of the dinosaurs, that originated from an unknown source [the meteorite?? et al], (the elements of which, cannot be from earth), that had covered the earth. Thus, in our opinion, and indicated by the above verse that, the CREATOR had created us for a purpose and had no intention of pitting us against the dinosaurs, which would have been an earlier creation, before mankind. 72 (ii) Angels thought of humans as in-capable Vicegerents? In the second meaning of the word ‘Khalifa’, we have the following daleels that may explain the Ayahs. 63

According to Qatadah, “they had knowledge that the generations after Adam would commit mischief on it” 73 Ibn Abu Hatim narrated from Ali Jafar al Baqer that the angels were informed that man would cause wickedness and shed blood on earth. It was also said that they knew that no one would be created on earth, who would not be wicked and shed blood. 74 (2.6.2) ADAM: THE FIRST HUMAN PROPHET Whatever interpretation we wish to take, in answer to which: ..He (Allah) said: "I know what ye know not." [Qur’an 2:30] Then Allah started explaining to angels how and why He chose Adam to be placed as a Khalifa. Adam was also the first Pophet on earth sent to the generations that followed him, and to the Jinns, that caused jealousy and enmity between the two buddies, we’ll see soon. And He taught Adam the nature of all things… [Qur’an 2:31] Allah taught Adam the Names/ Natures of all things. This denotes here “man’s faculty of logical definition and, thus, of conceptual thinking. That by ‘Adam’ the whole human race is meant here becomes obvious from the preceding reference, by the angels, to ‘such as will spread corruption on earth, and will shed blood’ “ 75 Allah taught Adam the names of all creation, and their functions, be they smallest of objects or largest of them, as is adopted by Ibn Abbas. 76 Almighty Allah granted Adam the power to know the nature of all things, and to summarize them by names: that is a bird, a star, a tree, etc. Allah implanted in Adam an insatiable need for and love of knowledge and a desire to bequeath knowledge to his children. This was the reason for his creation and the secret of his glorification. After Adam had learned the names of all things along with their properties and uses: 77 …then He placed them before the angels and said: ‘Tell Me the nature of these if ye are truthful.’ [2:31] Hasan Basri says when Allah intended to create Adam, the Angels said: ‘Our Lord does not create any creature but we are more knowledgeable than that creature’ So they were put to a test, and that is why He said: ‘If you are truthful’. 78 They said: "Glory to Thee of knowledge we have none save that Thou hast taught us: in truth it is Thou who art perfect in knowledge and wisdom." [Qur’an 2:32] “You asked, ‘Are you appointing a Khalifah from us or other creations? We praise and glorify you’. Therefore Allah said, ‘If you say the truth, that if I appoint a non-Angel Khalifah on the earth, he and his offspring will disobey Me, commit mischief and shed blood, but if I designate you as Khalifahs you will obey Me, follow My Command, and honor and glorify Me. However 64

since you do not know the names of the objects I paraded before you, then you have even less knowledge of what will occur on the earth that does not exist yet.” 79 He said: "O Adam! tell them their natures." When he had told them Allah said: "Did I not tell you that I know the secrets of heaven and earth and I know what ye reveal and what ye conceal?" [Qur’an 2:33] Through the Ayahs Allah explained the Angels how the humans are more capable Khalifahs than the Angels, although being constantly in the service of God. Allah Vows in some other Ayahs- By the fig and by the olive, by the mount of Sinai and by this city of peace (Makkah): We have indeed created man in the best of molds; Then do We abase him (to be) the lowest of the low; Except such as believe and do righteous deeds: for they shall have a reward unfailing. (Qur’an 95: 4_6) “It has been stated that Allah has created man in the most excellent of molds. This truth has been expressed in different ways, for example, at some places it has been said: "Allah appointed man His vicegerent on the earth and commanded the angels to bow down to him (Al-Baqara: 30, 34, Al-Anam: 165, Al-Araf: 11, Al-Hijr 28,29, An-Naml: 62, Suad 71- 73);" at others that: "Man has become bearer of the Divine trust, which the earth and the heavens and the mountains did not have the power to bear (Al-Ahzab 72);" and at still others that: "We honored the children of Adam and exalted them above many of Our other creatures (Banl Israel 70)," yet here the statement made on oath in particular by the habitats of the Prophets that man has been created in the finest of molds, signifies that mankind has been blessed with such an excellent mould and nature that it gave birth to men capable of attaining to the highest position of Prophethood, a higher position than which has not been attained by any other creature of God. Then, it has been stated that there are two kinds of men: those who in spite of having been created in the finest of mould, become inclined to evil and their moral degeneration causes them to be reduced to the lowest of the low, and those who by adopting the way of faith and righteousness remain secure from the degeneration and consistent with the noble position, which is the necessary demand of their having been created in the best of molds. The existence among mankind of both these kinds of men is such a factual thing which no one can deny, for it is being observed and experienced in society everywhere at all times.” 80 65

Allah wanted the angels to know that He knew of their astonishment when He had told them about the creation of Adam, and that He also knew of their confusion which they had not revealed, as well as what Iblis had concealed of his disobedience and ingratitude. The angels realized that Adam was the creature who knew what they did not know and that his capacity to learn was his noblest quality. His knowledge included knowledge of the Creator which we call faith or Islam, as well as the knowledge he would need to inhabit and master the earth. 81 (C) God’s Ordering prostration for Adam? This valuable piece of information that God gave to angels caused them to thank God, and feel sorry to what they just said. They had got no other option but to fall down in prostration before God. But look what God ordered to our amazement!! And behold We said to the angels: ‘Bow down to Adam’; (2:34) The exegetes of the Qur’an are of different views regarding those angels who were ordered to prostrate before Adam. Were they the Angels in general, or were they the angels of the earth only. 82 This signifies that the all angels whose jurisdiction embraces the earth, and that part of the universe in which the earth was situated were ordered to devote themselves to man’s service. Since man had been invested with authority on earth, the angels were told that whenever man wanted to make use of the powers with which he had been invested by God, and which God of His own will had allowed him to use, they should co-operate with him and enable him to do whatever he wanted him to do, irrespective of right and wrong. 83 In simple words, this could be understood as supposing that the brain orders the hand to do a thing. And the hand refuses to do so, that is there is no co ordination in its parts, how will the body function? Otherwise also, in Islamic terminology, sujood signifies obedience, as we see in the following verses: And unto Allah (Alone) falls in prostration whoever is in the heavens and the earth, willingly or unwillingly. [13:15] Have they not observed things that Allah has created: how their shadows incline to the right and to the left, making prostration unto Allah, and they are lowly? And to Allah prostrate all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth, of the moving creatures and the angels, and they are not proud. They fear their Lord above them, and they do what they are commanded. [16:48_50] (D) Jinns’ Response: ...and they (all) bowed down, not so Iblis (2:34) 66

(i) Lesson 1 regarding Satan’s disobedience: Here in all this what was happening in front of Adam in the presence of God, Angels and the Jinn Iblis (of whom we are told of now), is a great demonstration- a big play to explain us that Satan is an avowed enemy to humans. And thus we must not follow him. “Allah was preparing Adam for future so that Adam will know that Shaitan is his enemy’.84 Observe the beauty of how Allah narrates the story. All this time from Ayah 30 to Ayah 33, we do not hear a word about the presence of this Jinn, named Iblis, but suddenly in Ayah 34, he appears as flouting God’ order. All this time he was so jealous that we hear nothing from him, when Angels spoke what was in their heart. And here we come to confront satanic behaviours coming out in the flush of refusing to make sujood to Adam. Allah says: ...he refused and was haughty, he was of those who reject Faith. (2:34) These words seem to indicate that, in committing disobedience, Iblis was probably not alone. What seems to have been the case is that a section of the Jinn was bent upon rebellion, and the name of Iblis is mentioned, because he was their leader, and the most noted among them for his rebellion.85 Remember, only in the previous Ayah- Allah said: "Did I not tell you that I know the secrets of heaven and earth and I know what ye reveal and what ye conceal?" [2:33] How beautiful! No human can ever describe the story in such versatility other than the God Almighty. So here we come to know that Iblis tried to hide his feelings of jealousy, as much as he could, but finally, it burst out, when he thought, this is the limit. Me prostrating before a human created out of clay? (Allah) said: "what prevented thee from bowing down when I commanded thee?" He said: "I am better than he: thou didst create me from fire and him from clay." (7:12_13) We shall cover the physiology of humans in later chapter. Adam opened his eyes and saw all the angels prostrating before him except one being who was standing at a distance Adam did not know what kind of creature it was that did not prostrate before him nor did he know its name. Iblis was standing with the Angels so as to be included in the command given to them but he was not one of them. He was a jinn, and as such he was supposed to be inferior than the angels. What is clear is that this prostration was to show respect and did not mean that the angels were worshipping Adam. Prostrating in worship is done only for Allah. 86 Allah knew that Iblis was not going to obey Him in prostrating before Adam. Allah could have totally annihilated him or turned him into a handful of dust or stifled the refusal in his mouth. 67

Yet, Allah gives His commissioned creatures absolute freedom, even to the extent that they refuse Allah Almighty’s commands. He grants them the freedom of denial, disobedience, and even disagreement with Him. His Kingdom will not diminish, if the disbelievers do not believe in Him, nor will it be extended if many people believe in Him. (ii) Lesson 2 Iblis’ reprieve until the Day of Resurrection: (Iblis) said: "I am not one to prostrate myself to man whom thou didst create from sounding clay from mud molded into shape." (Allah) said: "Then get thee out from here; for thou art rejected accursed. [15:33_34] When Allah said to Iblis: ‘Get down from here’ (7:13) and ‘Get out from here’ (7:18), they are a clear indication that he was degraded from his position and dignity which were granted to him for his dedication to Allah, and being in resemblance to angels in obedience and worship. The high position was withdrawn after he showed arrogance, jealousy and disobedience to his Lord, and was thrown down [later with Adam and Eve] in utter humiliation and banishment. 87 "And the Curse shall be on thee till the Day of Judgment." (Iblis) said: "O my Lord! Give me then respite till the Day the (dead) are raised." (Allah) said: "Respite is granted thee "Till the Day of the Time Appointed." (Iblis) said: "O my Lord! Because Thou hast put me in the wrong I will make (wrong) fair-seeming to them on the earth and I will put them all in the wrong. [15:35_39] Allah said that, after He gave respite to Shaytan, and Iblis was sure that he got what he wanted, he went on in defiance and rebellion. He said: "because Thou hast thrown me out of the way lo! I will lie in wait for them on Thy straight way. "Then will I assault them from before them and behind them from their right and their left: nor wilt Thou find in most of them gratitude (for Thy mercies). [7:16_17] Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that, Ibn Abbas said <...and You will not find most of them to be thankful> ‘means, those who single Him out [in worship]’. (At-Tabari 12:342). When Shaytan said this, it was a guess and an assumption on his part. Yet, the truth turned out to be the same, for Allah said: And on them did Satan prove true his idea and they followed him all but a Party that believed. But he had no authority over them except that We might test the man who believes in the Hereafter from him who is in doubt concerning it: and thy Lord doth watch over all things. [35:20_21] That is why there is a Hadith that encourages seeking refuge with Allah from the lures of Shaytan from all directions. 88 ..."Except Thy servants among them, sincere and purified (by Thy grace)."[15:40] (E) Eve’s creation: 68

Now, Allah created Adam’s wife-‘Bibi Hawwa’ to support him in all times. Then He granted a piece of ‘Jannah’ or Paradise for both of them to live and enjoy life. (F) The Paradise for Adam and Eve: (iii) Lesson 3 regarding Satan’s deceit: Then Allah places another demonstration in front of Adam. We said: "O Adam! dwell thou and thy wife in the garden and eat of the bountiful things therein as (where and when) ye will, But approach not this tree or ye run into harm and transgression." (2:35) The location of this paradise is unknown to us. The Qur’an did not reveal it, and the commentators have five different opinions: (a) Some said that it was a paradise of our refuge and that its place was heaven. (b) Others regretted the statement because, if it was the paradise of refuge, Iblis would have been forbidden admission, and disobedience would have been forbidden as well. (c) Still others said that it was another Paradise that was created by Allah for Adam and Eve. (d) A fourth group said that it was a paradise on te earth located in a high place. (e) Another group of commentators accept what was in the Qur’an without questioning where this paradise was located. We agree with this last opinion as the lesson we learn from its location is immaterial compared to the lesson we learn from the events that took place there. 89 Imam Abu Jafar bin Jarir said, ‘The correct opinion is that Allah forbade Adam and his wife from eating a certain tree in Paradise, but they ate from it. We do not know which tree it was , because Allah has not mentioned anything in the Qur’an or the authentic Sunnah about the nature of this tree. It is said that it was barley, grope, or fig tree. It is possible that it was one of those trees. Yet, this is knowledge tat does not bring any benefit...’ 90 Then did Satan make them slip from the (garden) and get them out of the state (of felicity) in which they had been...(2:36) Years went by and Adam and Eve were preoccupied with thoughts of that tree. Then one day, they decided to eat of its fruit. They forgot that Allah had warned them not to approach it, and that Iblis was their sworn enemy. Then began satan to whisper suggestions to them bringing openly before their minds all their shame that was hidden from them (before): he said "Your Lord only forbade you this tree lest 69

ye should become angels or such beings as live for ever." And he swore to them both that he was their sincere adviser. So by deceit he brought about their fall: when they tasted of the tree their shame became manifest to them and they began to sew together the leaves of the garden over their bodies. And their Lord called unto them: "Did I not forbid you that tree and tell you that satan was an avowed enemy unto you?" (7:20_22) Al Hafez ibn Asaker narrated that Allah commanded two angels to remove Adam from his holy proximity. So Gabriel stripped him of the crown on his head, and Michael took the diadem from his forehead. Adam thought that his punishment had been hastened and bowed down crying: ‘Forgiveness! Forgiveness!’. So Allah asked, ‘Are you running away from Me?’ Adam replied, ‘No my Lord, but Iam shy of You’. (iv) Lesson 4 regarding Allah’s Word: But his Lord chose him (for His Grace): He turned to him and gave him guidance. (20:122) Subhan Allah! Look at the magnanimity that Allah grants us humans. Allah is oft forgiving, to the one who repents with pure heart. And this was the main difference between Iblis and Adam. He was so adamant upon his mistakes that he never felt sorry. It is said that not having the hope of forgiveness, itself is Kufr. So again see what Mercy Allah grants to beings who realise their mistakes on time. Allah taught Adam repentance and gave him this dua: They said: "our Lord! we have wronged our own souls: if Thou forgive us not and bestow not upon us Thy mercy we shall certainly be lost." (7:23) Allah accepted their repentance, because it was sincere, and He told them that the earth would be their realm and origin where they would live and die, and whence they would come on the Day of Judgment. 91 (v) Lesson 5 regarding Fate: He said: "Get ye down both of you all together from the Garden with enmity one to another; (20:123) Clearly, both mankind (Adam) and Jinn (Iblis), were sent to earth, with enmity between each other. ‘The story of Adam and Eve is, in reality, an allegory of human destiny’. 92 “Al Bukhari recorded that Abu Hurairah said that the Prophet SAW said: ‘Musa argued with Adam, and he said to him-‘Are you the one who got mankind expelled from Paradise, because of your sin, and you caused them grief!?’ Adam replied: ‘Are you the one 70

whom Allah chose for His Divine Messages, and His direct Speech? Are you blaming me for a matter that Allah wrote upon me before He created me?’ Then the Messenger of Allah SAW said, ‘Thus Adam defeated Musa.’” 93 In Bukhari it is related, that the group of men asked Rasul Allah SAW: “’We have come to you to learn our religion, and to ask you, how this all started?’ Rasul Allah SAW said that the first thing Allah created was Pen, and Allah commanded it to write everything that will happen, until the Day of Judgement” In one Hadith it is related: “Rasul Allah SAW met a group of men who came from Yemen, and said, ‘Ya Rasul Allah, how did all this started?’ Rasul Allah Saw said, ‘In the beginning there was Allah, and there was nothing before Him or with Him, and His Throne was on waters, and He wrote in the Tablet everything and He created the heavens and the earth.” 94 (vi) Lesson 6 regarding Guidance: But if as is sure there comes to you guidance from Me whosoever follows My guidance [Al- Huda], will not lose his way nor fall into misery. (20:123) Allah stated that when He sent Adam, Hawwa, and Shaytan to earth from Paradise, He warned them that, He will revel Books, and send Prophets and Messenegers to them, i.e., to their offspring. Abu Al Aliyah said, ‘Al Huda, refers to the Prophets, Messengers, the clear Signs, and plain explanation’. [2:38]: <And whoever follows My Guidance>, meaning, whoever accepts what is contained in My Books, and what I send the Messengers with, <there shall no fear on them> regarding the Hereafter, <nor shall they grieve> regarding the life of this world. Similarly in Surah Taha <….then whoever follows My Guidance, he shall neither go astray, nor shall be distressed>, Ibn Abbas commented, ‘He will not be misguided in this life, or miserable in the Hereafter’. (vii) Lesson 7 regarding Punishment for the followers of Shaytan: "But those who reject Faith and belie Our Signs they shall be Companions of the Fire; they shall abide therein." (2:39) Allah warns the children of Adam against Iblis and his followers, by explaining about his ancient enmity for the father of mankind, Adam peace be upon him. Adam expelled from Paradise, which is the dwelling of comfort, to the dwelling of hardship and fatigue (this life). 95 71

O ye children of Adam! let not satan seduce you in the same manner as he got your parents out of the garden…for he and his tribe watch you from a position where ye cannot see them: We made the evil ones friends (only) to those without faith. [7:27] The Holy Qur’an, speaks of an angel and the devil, as leading man, to two different courses of life. The former: to a good and noble life, and the latter: to a base and wicked life. Muslim reports from Ibn Mas’ud: The Holy Prophet SAW said- ‘There is not one among you, but there is appointed over him, his associate from among the Jinn, and his associate from among the angels’. The Companions said: ‘and what about thee, Prophet of Allah?’ He SAW said: ‘The same is the case with me, but Allah has helped me over him (i.e., the associate Jinn), so he has submitted, and does not command me aught but good’ [Muslim - Eng. Trans. Vol.4, p.1472, No.6757] …Therefore whoever disbelieves in the devil [at taghut: ‘forces of Shaitan’ (Malik); ‘powers of evil’ (M.Asad)], and believes in Allah, he has laid hold on the firmest handle… (2:256) The significance is clear enough: one must obey the commandments of God, and refuse to follow the suggestions of the devil. The word shaitan is applied even to to men of certain class, in the Holy Qur’an, and the leaders of evil are again and again called devils. (see 2:14, 3:174, 8:48, 15:1721:82). But the use of the word jinn, when speaking of men was recognised in Arabic literature before Islam. 96 72

REFERENCES 23. http://thetruereligion.org/modules/wfsection/article.php?articleid=101, MESSENGERS: Prophethood in Islam, Published:2004/4/1, III&E 24. http://www.islamia.com/the_last_prophet.htm Source: Ideals and Realities of Islam by Seyyed Hossein Nasr 25. http://www.salaam.co.uk/themeofthemonth/february02_index.php 26. Dr. Sulaiman al Ashqar, The Messengers and the Messages in the light of the Qurán and the Sunnah, p. 19_21 27. http://www.salaam.co.uk/themeofthemonth/february02_index.php 28. Dr. Sulaiman al Ashqar, The Messengers and the Messages in the light of the Qurán and the Sunnah, p.19_21 29. M.Asad, note 65 to 22:52, Al Alim 30. Al-Sheikh Muhammad Ali Sabuni, Prophethood and the Prophets, p.18 31. Dr. Umar Sulaiman al Ashqar, The Messengers and the Messages, p. 21 32. Abu Omar Faheem Hasan, A Guide for Young Muslims, based upon the Qurán and Sunnah, and the Doctrine of early generation of believers. 33.http://www.islamia.com/the_last_prophet.htm Source: Ideals and Realities of Islam by Seyyed Hossein Nasr 34.Maulana Muhammad Shafi, Maáriful Qurán, note to Qurán 32:3, p.58 and 36:6, p.364. 35. http://www.youngmuslims.ca/online_library/books/ulum_al_quran/chapter_1.htm 36 A.Y. Ali Commentary to verse 42:51, notes 4598,4599,4600, Alim CD 37. Dr.Umar Sulaiman Al-Ashqar, The Messengers and The Messages in the light of the Qurán and Sunnah, Chapter Four: The Divine Revelation, p. 57-59 38. A.Y. Ali Commentary to verse 42:51, notes 4598,4599,4600, Alim CD 39. Dr.Umar Sulaiman Al-Ashqar, The Messengers and The Messages in the light of the Qurán and Sunnah, Chapter Four: The Divine Revelation, p. 57-59 40. Ibn Kathir, Tafsir, noes to Ayah 42:51, page611 of Volume 8 41. A.Y. Ali Commentary to verse 42:51, notes 4598,4599,4600, Alim CD 42. Dr.Umar Sulaiman Al-Ashqar, The Messengers and The Messages in the light of the Qurán and Sunnah, Chapter Four: The Divine Revelation, p. 57-59 43. http://www.muslim.org/intro/course2000/ , Section 3, 4 44. http://www.youngmuslims.ca/online_library/books/ulum_al_quran/chapter_1.htm 45. Maulana Mufti Muhammad Shafi, Maáraf al Qurán, Maáraf wa Masaíl to 33:40- Masla Khatm Nubuwwat, p.167 46. Maulana Maududi, note 70 to 5: 42 and note 75 to 5:45 Alim CD 47. http://www.youngmuslims.ca/online_library/books/ulum_al_quran/chapter_1.htm 48. http://www.islamia.com/the_last_prophet.htm 49. Maulana Muhammad Ali, The Religion of Islam, Ch. 3 Angels 50. A.Y.Ali, note 929 to 6:100, Al Alim 51. Maulana Muhammad Ali, The Religion of Islam, Jinns 52. Bashir A. Syed in Discussing Religion@yahoo groups.com, dated 14 Oct ‘ 03 53. It must be remembered that Iblis is a Jinn and not an Angel. The concept of the Devil being a fallen Angel is from Christianity and not Islam. 54.In fact when The Exorcist was first shown on cinema, it was so scary that many people fainted and one even died! 73

55. Whilst Christians invoke the name of Jesus, many Muslims invoke the name of pious Muslim saints! The rituals which are conducted by many Muslims are more akin to voodoo then the exorcism practised by the Prophet and his companions!! 56.Ganesh, the elephant headed deity, seemed to be the biggest drinker! In fact it didn't just stop at milk. At the time of these occurrences, a woman in India decided to see if Ganesh would drink anything else - so she offered him whiskey!! And Lo and behold Ganesh drank the Whiskey!!! Suffice to say, the woman was kicked out of India. 57. The ship which was recovered was more then 50 years old. It subsequently caught alight and was conveniently destroyed. 58. Michel de Nostradamus was a famous French soothsayer of the 16th century. 59. The classic example of how fortune tellers can be wrong is the case of Diana, Princess of Wales and Dodi Fayed. Both went to see a fortune teller who told Diana that she would live a long and happy life. A few weeks later, on August 31st 1997, Diana and Dodi Fayed were dead. After this the fortune tellers flew for cover, as their evil art showed its decadence. 60. Ouija boards are so misleading, that people have even managed to get in touch with the spirit of Jack the Ripper!! 61. An informative book on the world of the Jinn is Ibn Taymeeyah's Essay on the Jinn translated by Abu Ameenah Bilal Phillips. 62. http://thetruereligion.org/modules/wfsection/article.php?articleid=55 http://thetruereligion.org/modules/wfsection/index.php?category=22 THE HIDDEN WORLD: The World of the Jinn , Published: 2004/3/30, Invitation to Islam, Issue 4, January 1998 63. Al-Imam Ibn Kathir, Stories of the Prophets, Software by Jamal al Nasir, 64. Maulan Muhammad Ali, The Reeligion of Islam, Jinns 65. A.Y.Ali’s note 3930 to 35:39, Al Alim 66. M.Asad note 22 to 2:30 67. Anwar al Awlaki, Stories of the Prophets, Audio CD, Track 1 68. Ibn Kathir, Tafsir-p.183, Volume 1 69. Ibn Kathir, Stories of the Prophets, pages 16 through 48 70. Imaaam Ibn Katheer rahimahullah, The story of Aadam Alaihissalam, translated by Muhammad Gameiah, http://muslimconverts.com/ProphetsofAllah/ProphetAdam.htm 71. Maududi, Tafhim al Qur’an, p.60, Vol I, note 39 to 2:30 72. Imran_akhter@softhome.net 9 Aug 2003 Taken from: http://www.jetlink.com.ph/~religion/relig021.htm 73. Ibn Kathir, Tafsir-p.183, Volume 1 74. Imaaam Ibn Katheer rahimahullah, The story of Aadam Alaihissalam, translated by Muhammad Gameiah, http://muslimconverts.com/ProphetsofAllah/ProphetAdam.htm 75. M.Asad, Alim Cd, note 23 to 2:30. 76. Ibn Kathir, Stories of the Prophets, pages 16 through 48 77. Al-Imam Ibn Kathir, Stories of the Prophets, Software by Jamal al Nasir, 78. Ibn Kathir, Stories of the Prophets, pages 16 through 48 79. Ibn Kathir, Tafsir, p.190_191, Volume 1 80. Maududi Sura Introductions, Al Alim, Theme and Subject Matter to Sura 95 At-Tin 81. Al-Imam Ibn Kathir, Stories of the Prophets, Software by Jamal al Nasir, 82. Ibn Kathir, Stories of the Prophets, pages 16 through 48 83. Maulana Maududi,Tafhim al Qur’an, note 45 to 2:34, page 62, Volume 1 84. Anwar al Awlaki, Stories of the Prophets, CD 1, track 3. 85. Maulana Maududi, Tafhim al Qur’an, note47 to 2:34, page63, Volume I 86. Al-Imam Ibn Kathir, Stories of the Prophets, Software by Jamal al Nasir, 87. Ibn Kathir, Stories of the Prophets, p.22 88. Ibn Kathir, Tafsir to 7:14_17, p.31_33, Volume 4 89. Imaaam Ibn Katheer rahimahullah, The story of Aadam Alaihissalam, translated by Muhammad Gameiah, http://muslimconverts.com/ProphetsofAllah/ProphetAdam.htm 90. Ibn Kathir, Tafsir, , page 197 to 2:35, Volume I 91. Imaaam Ibn Katheer rahimahullah, The story of Aadam Alaihissalam, translated by Muhammad Gameiah, http://muslimconverts.com/ProphetsofAllah/ProphetAdam.htm 92. M.. Asad, note16 to 7:20, Al Alim 74

93. Ibn Kathir, Tafsir note, page 404 to 20:122, Volume 6 94. Anwar al Awlaki, Stories of thr Prophets, Audio CD Track 1 95. Ibn Kathir, Tafsir to 7:27, p.41, Volume 4 96. Maulana Muhammad Ali, The Religion of Islam, Ch. 3 Angels CHAPTER III: ISLAM AND IT’S HYPOTHESIS 3.1 Qur’anic Interpretation of the word “Islam” (3.1.1) Islam as the Religion of Each and Every Object Created (3.1.2) Islam as the Religion of Human Nature and thus the Religion of all Prophets (A) How every Prophet was a Muslim? (3.1.3) Islam as the Religion of Muhammad SAW 3.2 THE QUR’ANIC HYPOTHESIS (3.2.1) All Humanity and Jinns were created to worship One God (3.2.2) Meaning of “Covenant”, and why God wants us to fulfil our Covenants (3.2.3) The Covenants taken from the Descendants of Adam (3.2.4) When people first turned to Idolatry (3.2.5) All Prophets called to the Worship of One God (3.2.6) All Prophets form One Brotherhood (3.2.7) The Disbelieving Nations were Destroyed (3.2.8) Our Methodology (3.2.9) Total Submission (Islam) comes with Obedience to the Messenger (3.2.10) Why Sects Emerged? (3.2.11) The Covenant of the Prophets (3.2.12) Why do Shariahs differ in essence, or get abrogated (3.2.13) Muhammad SAW abrogates the Shariah of all pevious Prophets (3.2.14) The Seal of all Prophets 75

(3.2.15) The Observations of the Holy Prophet (SAW) about the Finality of Prophethood 3.3 The Five Obligatory Pillars of Islam 3.4 Islam and Iman 3.5 Islamic Morality ISLAM AND IT’S HYPOTHESIS (3.1) QUR’ANIC INTERPRETATION OF THE WORD ‘ISLAM’ “Islam” in the plainest sense of words is: ‘Surrender to the Will of the Almighty God’. Al-Qur’an interprets this word in three ways: (3.1.1) Islam as the Religion of each and every object created: Each and everything created follows the nature/order in which it is created by God. And this is the meaning of this sentence that ‘every object follows Islam’. We have already partially observed in the first chapter that how, each and every thing created is actually obeying the Will and Plan of the Allah Almighty, be it from the heavens or the earth, or be it from our own planet. So Allah says: Do they seek for other than the Religion of Allah? While all creatures in the heavens and on earth have willing or unwilling bowed to His Will (accepted Islam) and to Him shall they all be brought back. (Qur’an 3:83) At another place Allah says: 76

“And before God prostrate themselves, willingly or unwillingly, all [things and beings] that are in the heavens and on earth, as do their shadows in the mornings and the evenings. [Surah Ra’ad 13:15] “The expression ‘yasjud’ (“prostrates himself” or “prostrate themselves”) is a metonym for a complete submission to His Will (Zamakhshari), that is, to the natural laws Decreed by Him with regard to everything that exists. However in view of the subsequent reference to ‘shadows’, it is logical to assume that the relative pronoun man relates in this context, not merely to conscious beings, but also to all other physical objects, whether animate or inanimate-i.e., ‘to all things and beings that are in the heavens and on earth’. Art thou not aware that before God prostrate themselves all [things and beings] that are in the heavens and all that on the earth- the sun, and the moon, and the stars and the mountains, and the trees and the beasts?... 97 (3.1.2) Islam as a Religion of Human Nature and thus the Reigion of all Prophets: The human nature or the human mind set has always been the same, since we are dispersed on this earth. Islam is also called: “‘dîn al-fitrah’, or the religion of human nature, because its laws and its teachings are in full harmony with the normal and the natural inclination of the human fitrah to believe in and submit to the Creator.” 98 Imâm an-Nawawî (d. 676 A.H. / 1277 C.E.), who wrote one of the principal commentaries on Sahîh Muslim, defined fitrah as the unconfirmed state of îmân before the individual consciously affirms his belief. Hence, if a child were to die before he attains discretion he would be on of the inmates of Paradise. This view applies to the children of polytheists as well, and is supported by the above-quoted hadîth. The legal implication of this hadîth is that all children are born pure, sinless and predisposed to belief in one God; moreover they are of the inmates of Paradise; however, if their parents are non-Muslims, the religion of their parents will be applicable to them in this world. 99 “Narrated Abu Huraira : Allah's Apostle said, ‘Every child is born with a true faith of Islam (i.e. to worship none but Allah Alone) but his parents’ convert him to Judaism, Christianity or Magainism’ [Bukhari :: Book 6 :: Volume 60 :: Hadith 298] According to Ibn Taymiyyah every child is born in a state of fitrah; in a state of innate goodness, and it is the social environments which cause the individual to deviate from this state. There is a natural correspondence between human nature and Islâm; man is suited for Dîn al-Islâm and responds spontaneously to its teachings. Dîn al-Islâm provides the ideal conditions for sustaining and developing man’s innate qualities. In support of this view, Ibn Taymiyyah cited Abû Hurairah’s reference to the central Qur’ânic âyah (30:30) after the latter’s quoting the central hadîth. 100 77

In other words, whenever Abû Hurairah, may Allâh be pleased with him, reported the central hadîth, he used to recite after it the following Qur’ânic âyah: 101 And So, set thy face steadfastly towards the [one ever true] faith, turning away from all that is false, in accordance with the natural disposition, which God has instilled into man;[for], not to allow any change to corrupt, what God has thus created- this is the [purpose of the One] ever true faith, but most people knew it not.[Qur’an 30:30] 102 Since Allâh’s fitrah is engraved upon the human soul, mankind is born in a state in which tawhîd [belief in One God] is integral. Since tawhîd is intrinsic to man’s fitrah, the prophets, peace be upon them, came to remind man of it, and to guide him to that which is integral to his original nature. The âyah describes a fitrah of primordial faith which Allâh Himself implanted in human nature. It implies Islâm’s essential message of submission to the will of Allâh as taught is practiced by the prophets. The Laws or the sharî‘ahs, which the prophets were sent with, are guiding lights to the essential faith in Allâh which is created in every human being. Furthermore, since this faith comes from Allâh, it naturally follows that only laws capable of guiding man back to it must also come from Allâh, hence Islâm is also called dîn al-fitrah, the religion of human nature. That every child is born in this pure state of fitrah is also supported by the following hadîth concerning the polytheists: ‘It is related that the Prophet, may Allâh bless him and grant him peace, said that he saw in a vision an old man at the front of a large tree and around him were children and in the vision he was told that the old man was Ibrâhîm and that the children who were around him were the children who, before attaining the age of discretion, had died. At this, some Muslims had asked hum: "And the children of the polytheists too, Messenger of Allâh?" The Prophet, may Allâh bless him and grant him peace, replied: "The children of the polytheists as well." 103 In this respect Qur’an says that all Prophets followed Islam, that is, the Religion that should be followed, as the worship of One God was preached by all of them. For We assuredly sent amongst every People an apostle (with the Command): "Serve Allah and eschew Evil": ... So travel through the earth and see, what was the end of those who denied (the Truth). [Surah Nahl 16:36] (A) HOW EVERY PROPHET WAS A MUSLIM ? In Arabic language there are several meanings of the word “Deen”, of which one is ‘Methodology’ (Tariqah). In Qur’anic context, the word “Deen” stands for Rules and Regulations (Usool aur Ahkam), which relate with any of the Prophets from Adam AS to Khatam al Ambiya SAW. And the words “Shariat” or “Minhaj”, and later on, the word Madh’hab are used to denote 78

those varying (furuu’i) regulations which varied in different periods for different ummahs. Qurán Kareem (42:13) says: [sharaca la- -kum min ad- den maa was.s.aa bi- -hi noh.(an) wa- 'alladhe awh.aynaa 'ilay -ka wa- maa was.s.aynaa bi- -hi 'ibraahem wa- mosaa wa- cesaa 'an aqemo ad- den…] The same religion has He established for you as that which He enjoined on Noah--the which We have sent by inspiration to thee--and that which We enjoined on Abraham Moses and Jesus. Through this we found that the religion (deen) of all Prophets (peace be upon them all), had been to call to the worship of One God Almighty and to the belief of that what occurs after death, i.e., the retribution in the form of heaven and hell. This is not only to be believed in heart, but also to be acknowledged with tongue, leading to the conclusion that all Prophets and Messengers brought the true regulations from God. Thus the word “Islam” originally implies, submitting oneself in service of Allah, and being obedient to His Orders. In this respect, those people who fell in obedience to the laws brought up by the Prophets and Messengers of their respective time or period before Muhammad SAW, are also deservedly to be called Muslims, and their Deen Islam. In similar context did Noah (Nuh AS) said: [wa- 'umirtu 'an akon min al- muslimen] “and [Noah said:] I have been commanded to be of those who submit to Allah's Will (in Islam). [Or ‘I have been commanded to become a Muslim’]" [Qurán 10:72] and Abraham (Ibrahim AS) said: [rabb -naa wa- ijcal -naa muslimain la- -ka wa- min dhurreyah -naa 'ummah muslimah la- -ka] "Our Lord! make of us Muslims (bowing to Thy Will) and of our progeny a people Muslim (bowing to Thy Will)” [Qurán 2: 128] and the Disciples of Jesus (Isa AS) said: [qaala al- h.awaareyon nah.nu ans.aar 'allaah 'aamannaa bi- 'allaah wa- ishhad bi- 'an(na) -naa muslimon] “Said the Disciples: "We are Allah's helpers we believe in Allah and do thou bear witness that we are Muslims’ “ [or that ‘we have surrendered’ ]. [Qurán 3:52] 104 and the Queen of Sheba (Bilqis) said: (qaalat rabb -i 'inni -y z.alamtu nafs -e wa- aslamtu maca sulaymaan li- 'allaah rabb al- caalamen ) “She said: "O my Lord! I have indeed wronged my soul: I do (now) submit (in Islam) with Solomon to the Lord of the Worlds."[Qurán 27:44] and Allah SWT says: (wa- maa arsalnaa min qabli -ka min rasol 'illaa noh.e 'ilay -hi 'anna -hu laa 'ilaah 'illaa 'anaa fa- ucbudo –ni ) “Not an apostle did We send before thee without this inspiration sent by Us to him: that there is no god but I; therefore worship and serve Me. [Qurán 21:25]; In the Holy Book, it is mentioned that all the prophets, from Adam (pbuh) to Muhammad (pbuh) are prophets of Islam, and their true followers are labelled Muslims. They gave the same basic teaching, that man should worship God, and God alone, and make peace with fellow human beings. They received the Word of God, preached and practiced it and struggled hard to shape the society on the basis of revealed moral principles. 79

But however they shared between them the knowledge of God, they advocated different outer rules and regulations for the well-being of human transaction in society. (3.1.3) Islam as the Religion of Muhammad SAW Points of difference among the divine messages were necessary due to the changing times and circumstances and concerned only certain secondary principles such as legislation, ways of worship and methods of organizing life. Each message had its particular legislative form through which the teachings of Islam and its major goals in life were suitably expressed. God says: "And We have revealed to you the Book (Qur'an) with the truth confirming whatever of the Book(s) was before it and a guardian over it, so judge between them by what Allah has revealed…<Qur’an Maida 5:48> 105 The basic values and laws of conduct were universalized for all human beings and for all time by the last of the prophets, Muhammad (pbuh). He brought about a successful revolution in the world of thought and action and started a new phase of human civilization. The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) had come to complete the work of the earlier prophets."... This day have I perfected for you your religion and completed My favour to you and chosen for you Islam as a religion. <Qur'an Maida 5:4> In other words, every Prophet sent by God was actually a Muslim, who was committed to the service of One God, and they all called us to the Religion of the Supreme: They had not come to establish separate religions, but it was the people, under selfish interests, cut off their affair of unity and divided each other into the world that we see today. ...For everyone of you We have appointed a divine law and a (traced out) way, and if Allah had willed, He would have made you (all) a single nation, but that He might try you in what He gave you, so strive as in race in all virtues. the goal of you is to God..." <Qur'an Mai'da 5:48> Many people misinterpret the above verse to mean that what ever they have of the ancient Books and Scriptures are enough for them to stick to their individual sects, that is, for a Christian, or a Jew, for example, it is just Ok to continue following their old sect and do not refresh it by the teachings of what Isa AS had brought for the Children of Israel and later Muhammad SAW brought for the whole world. This is the cause of Jewish and Christian world head over heels against Islam since Muhammad SAW came in the 7th century. So much so that, they have waged unlimited number of wars against Muslims, to wipe us out from the face of this earth. But this is not possible because Allah has said: They seek to extinguish the Light of Allah with their mouths, but Allah will perfect His Light, much as the unbelievers may dislike it. [Qur’an 61:8] 80

When the people of the previous faiths who have received Prophets or Heavenly Book from God, and they now know that even Qur’an is the Word of God, and still refuse to accept it and accept Muhammad SAW are termed as ‘unbelievers’ or kuffar. Say (O Muslims): ‘We believe in Allah and that which is revealed to us; and what was revealed to Ibrahim (Abraham), Isma'il (Ishmael), Ishaq (Isaac), Ya'qoob (Jacob) and their descendants, and that which was given to Musa (Moses), Isa (Jesus) and other Prophets from their Rabb. We do not discriminate any of them, and to Allah we have surrendered ourselves (in Islam)." So, if they accept Islam like you, they shall be rightly guided; if they reject it, they will surely fall into dissension (divide into differing factions). [2:135_136] (3.2) THE QUR’ANIC HYPOTHESIS: IT IMPLIES THAT BASICALLY THE RELIGION OF ALL PROPHETS OF GOD WAS ISLAM, AND THEY ALL FORM ONE BROTHERHOOD. IN THIS THESIS WE ARE GOING TO PROVE IT RIGHT. (INSHA ALLAH) (3.2.1) All Humanity and Jinns were created to worship One God: In fact, your religion is One religion, and I am your only Rabb: so fear Me Alone. [Qur’an 23:52_53] It is recorded in two Sahihs that Ibn Mas’ud said that the Messenger of Allah SAW said, ‘No one is more jealous than Allah. This is why He prohibited all types of sin committed in public or secret. No one likes praise more than Allah, and this is why He praised Himself. No one likes to 81

give excuse more than Allah, and this is why He sent the Prophets as bearers of good news and as warners’. We have sent thee inspiration [O Muhammad] as We sent it to Noah and the Messengers after him; We sent inspiration to Abraham, Ismail, Isaac, Jacob and the Tribes, to Jesus, Job, Jonah, Aaron, and Solomon, and to David We gave the Psalms. Of some Apostles We have already told thee the story; of others We have not ...and to Moses Allah spoke direct, Apostles who gave good news as well as warning that mankind after (the coming) of the Apostles should have no plea against Allah: for Allah is Exalted in Power Wise. [4:164_165] Allah sent down His Books and sent His Messengers with good news and warnings. He explained what He likes and is pleased with, and what He dislikes and is displeased with. This way no one will have an excuse with Allah. Allah said in other Ayah: And if We had destroyed them with a torment before this, they would surely have said: ‘Our Lord! If only You had sent us a Messenger, we should certainly have followed Your Ayat [Revelation], before we were humiliated and disgraced’. [20:134] In another narration, the Prophet SAW said, ‘and this is why He sent His Messengers and revealed His Books’. [Fath al Bari 8:146 and Muslim 4:2114] 106 Or lest ye should say: "If the Book had only been sent down to us we should have followed its guidance better than they." [6:156_157] Anas (RA) relates that he heard the Messenger of Allah SAW stating: Allah the Mighty declares: “O Son of Adam! While you keep on calling Me and have hope in My forgiveness I shall forgive every sin you have committed.” O Son of Adam! If you come to Me with your sins that are about the size of the earth and meet Me in the state that you never did make anyone as My partner, I shall forgive all these sins that are about the size of the earth.” (in other words, I shall forgive all your sins) (Reported by Tirmidhi). (3.2.2) Meaning of “Covenant” and Why God wants us to fulfill our Covenants?: There is an implied covenant on all created things to follow Allah’s Law, which is the law of their being. yaa 'ayyuhaa 'alladhena 'aamano awfo bi- al- cuqod O ye who believe! fulfil (all) obligations 107/ be true to your covenants [5:1] The term ‘aqd’ [“Covenant”] denotes a solemn undertaking or engagement involving more than one party. According to Raghib, the Covenants referred to in this verse “are of three kinds: the 82

covenants between God and man [i.e. man’s obligations towards God], between man and his own soul, and between the individual and his fellow-men” 108 The Arabic word ‘Uqud’ (Obligations), implies so many things that a whole chapter of commentary can be written on it. First there are the Divine Obligations that arise from our spiritual nature, and our relation to Allah. He created us and implanted in us, the faculty of knowledge and foresight: besides the intuition, and reason which He gave us.. He made nature responsive to our needs, and His Signs in nature are so many lessons to us in our own inner life. He further sent Messengers and Teachers, for the guidance of our conduct, in individual, social and public life. All these gifts create corresponding obligations which we must fulfil. ...Truth and Fidelity are parts of religion in all relations of life. 109 wa- 'idh 'akhadhnaa min an- nabeyen methaaq -hum wa- min -ka wa- min noh. wa- 'ibraahem wa- mosaa wa- cesaa ibn maryam wa- 'akhadhnaa min -hum methaaq(an) ghalez.(an). What cause have ye why ye should not believe in Allah? And the Apostle invites you to believe in your Lord and has indeed taken your Covenant if ye are men of faith. [57:8] There is an implied covenant in a man, who accepts the Gospel of Unity that he will bring forth, all the fruits of that Gospel, i.e., believe in Allah, serve Allah and humanity. 110 That Allah is the Most Just, is that we receive in this world and the world to come, the rewards or punishments, depending on our deeds. It is due to the Covenants that Allah has made with each of us that we are held responsible for what we do. That what we actually ‘do’, is our ‘deed’, and it is this deed that is noted down in our records by the angels. This is the “Record” that shall be produced for us on the Day of Judgement. So Allah calls us to do that what is prescribed as right by Him through His Messengers. He says: We did indeed offer the Trust to the Heavens and the Earth and the Mountains: but they refused to undertake it being afraid thereof: but man undertook it he was indeed unjust and foolish. (With the result) that Allah has to punish the Hypocrites men and women and the Unbelievers men and women and Allah turns in Mercy to the Believers men and women: for Allah is Oft-Forgiving Most Merciful. [33:72, 73] ‘Zalum’ translated “unjust” and ‘Jahul’ “ignorant”, as much as to say, ‘man signally failed to measure his own powers, or his own knowledge. But Allah’s Grace came to his assistance. How did man generically undertake this great responsibility, which made him vicegerent on earth (ii 30). Here comes in the doctrine of a Covenant, express or implied, between Allah and humanity. A Covenant ‘Mithaq’ necessarily implies Trust, and its breach necessarily implies Punishment. 83

Man’s generic Covenant, which flowed from his exercising the option, given him, choosing Will, Forbearance, Love, Mercy, made it necessary that the breach of it should carry its own punishment. 111 (3.2.3) The Covenant taken from the Descendants of Adam: There are Hadiths that mention that Allah took Adam’s offspring from his loins and divided them into those on the right and those on the left. Imam Ahmad recorded that Anas bin Malik said that the Prophet Saw said: “It will be said to a man from the people of the Fire on the Day of Resurrection, ‘If you owned all that is on the earth, would you pay it as ransom?’ He will reply ‘Yes’. Allah will say, ‘I ordered you with what is less than that, when you were still in Adam’s loins, that is, associate none with Me (in worship). You insisted that you associate with Me (in worship)’.” This was recorded in the Two Sahihs (Fath al Bari 6:419 and Muslim 4:2160). Allah says in the Qur’an: When thy Lord drew forth from the children of Adam from their loins their descendants and made them testify concerning themselves (saying): "Am I not your Lord (who cherishes and sustains you)?" They said: "Yea! we do testify!" (This) lest ye should say on the Day of Judgment: "of this we were never mindful." Or lest ye should say: "Our fathers before us may have taken false gods but we are (their) descendants after them: wilt thou then destroy us because of the deeds of men who were futile?" [7:172_173] Commenting on this Ayah, At-Tirmidhi recorded that Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah SAW said: When Allah created Adam, He wiped Adam’s back and every person that He will create from him until the Day of Resurrection fell out from his back. Allah placed a glimmering light between the eyes of each one of them. Allah showed them to Adam and Adam asked, ‘O Lord, who are they?’ Allah said, ‘These are your offspring’. Adam saw a man from among them whose light he liked. He asked, O Lord, who is this man? Allah said, ‘This is a man from the later generations of your offspring. His name is Dawud.’ Adam said, O Lord! How many years would he live?’ Allah said, ‘Sixty years’. Adam said, ‘O Lord, I have forfeited forty years, from my life for him.’ When Adam’s life came to an end, the angel of death came to him (to take his soul). Adam said, I still have forty years from my life term, don’t I?’ He said, ‘Have you not given it to your son Dawud? So Adam denied that and his offspring followed suit (denying Allah’s Covenant). Adam forgot, and his offspring forgot. Adam made a mistake and his offspring made mistakes. 84

So Allah says: We had already beforehand taken the covenant of Adam but he forgot: and We found on his part no firm resolve. [20:25] These and similar hadiths testify that Allah the Exalted, and Most Honoured, brought forth Adam’s offspring from his loins and separated between the inhabitants of Paradise and those of the Fire. Allah then said: <”Am I not your Lord?” They said: “Yes”> 112 Thus Allah warns mankind again and again, that let not Satan make us forget the Truth regarding our Covenant with God that we will associate none to His worship. He has promised God to deviate us from the rightful worship, as we explained earlier: O ye children of Adam! let not satan seduce you in the same manner as he got your parents out of the garden... for he and his tribe watch you from a position where ye cannot see them: We made the evil ones friends (only) to those without faith. When they do aught that is shameful they say: "We found our fathers doing so"; and "Allah commanded us thus": say: "Nay Allah never commands what is shameful: do ye say of Allah what ye know not?" [7:27_28] (3.2.4) When People first turned to Idolatry: As to those who are atheists or do not believe in any God, are devoid of any logic or sense because how can such an vast universe and its creatures be working on their own, if there is no God? They must think. When we say that Allah has created us in the natural disposition of assuming that ‘God exists’, and that ‘we are supposed to worship Him’, stood true for the first ten generations after Adam AS lived on this earth. During this time, Prophets were sent to solve the common differences occurring amongst peoples, and to remind them, not to commit sins as God is all aware of what ever we do. Mankind was one nation having one religion. Later when people invented other religions, Allah appointed Prophets as bearers of good news and warnings; and revealed to them the Book with the True Guidance to settle the matters of dispute between mankind. But the very people to whom it was given, started disputes after the clear arguments had come to them, because of rivalry between one another. [2:213] We are told that the first time people started worshipping idols, was when the Satan instigated the believers to make pictures of prophets who were dead, so that they may keep them fresh in their memories. So now, people got deviated slowly to idolatry, when they assumed various other means to worship God, and they thought there is nothing wrong in this. How can we 85

create Him, when it is He Who created us of earth and water. It is profanity to make His image out of things that are impure. He exists and we worship Him without imagining Him as an idol of any creature, be it a prophet, angel or devil because God has told us to follow Him as the Messengers of God has told us to worship Him. No prophet or Messenger has ever taught us to worship God’s assumed images. In order to cleanse the world of the curse of idolatry, Allah sent Nuh AS (Noah), the first Messenger on earth, to call the people to the worship of One Pure God. The disbelievers who did not believe in him were destroyed by the Great Deluge. (3.2.5) All Prophets called to the Worship of One God: Thus all Messengers called its people to worship of One God: Not an apostle did We send before thee [O Muhammad] without this inspiration sent by Us to him: that there is no god but I; therefore worship and serve Me. [21:25] NOAH: <We sent Noah to his people. He said: "O my people! worship Allah! ye have no other god but Him. I fear for you the punishment of a dreadful day!> (Sura 7, Al A’raf, verse 59) HUD: < To the Ad people (We sent) Hud one of their (own) brethren: He said: "O my people! worship Allah! ye have no other god but Him. Will yet not fear (Allah)?"> (Sura 7, Al-A’raf, verse 65) SALIH: < To the Thamud people (We sent) Saleh one of their own brethren: he said: "O my people! worship Allah; ye have no other god but Him. Now hath come unto you a clear (sign) from your Lord!> (Sura 7, Al-A’raf, verse 73) SHU’AIB: < To the Madyan people We sent Shu`aib one of their own brethren: he said: "O my people! worship Allah; Ye have no other god but Him. Now hath come unto you a clear (sign) from your Lord! > (Sura 7, Al-A’raf, verse 85) IBRAHIM: < And (We also saved) Abraham: Behold he said to his people "Serve Allah and fear Him: that will be best for you if ye understand! "For ye do worship idols besides Allah and ye invent falsehood. The things that ye worship besides Allah have no power to give you sustenance: then seek ye sustenance from Allah, serve Him and be grateful to Him: to Him will be your return. > (Sura 29, Al-Ankabut, verses 16_17) YUSUF: < "If not Him ye worship nothing but names which ye have named ye and your fathers for which Allah hath sent you no authority: the Command is for none but Allah: He hath commanded that ye worship none but Him: that is the right religion but Most men understand not. >Sura 12, Yusuf, verse 40) ESSA: < When Jesus came with Clear Signs he said: "Now have I come to you with Wisdom and in order to make clear to you some of the (points) on which ye dispute: therefore fear Allah and obey me. "For Allah; He is my Lord and your Lord: so worship ye Him: this is a Straight 86

Way." But sects from among themselves fell into disagreement: then woe to the wrongdoers from the Penalty of a Grievous Day! > (Sura 43, Az-Zukhruf, verse 63_65) MUHAMMAD (SAW): < Say: "Truly am I a Warner: no god is there but the One Allah Supreme and Irresistible. The Lord of the heavens and the earth, and all between,- Exalted in Might, Ever Forgiving.> (Sura 38 Sad, verse 65 and 66) So all the Prophets and Messengers, invited their respective people from the very beginning to the faith of Oneness of Allah. 113 These Prophets and Messengers were sent either to the nations to which they belonged to, or to the people who spoke their own language, or to rescue their people from tyrannous rulers. But Muhammad SAW was sent as a Messenger to the whole world. (3.2.6) All Prophets form One Brotherhood: As for those who divide their religion and break up into sects thou hast no part in them in the least: their affair is with Allah: He will in the end tell them the truth of all that they did. He that doeth good shall have ten times as much to his credit: he that doeth evil shall only be recompensed according to his evil. No wrong shall be done unto (any of) them. Say: "Verily my Lord hath guided me to a way that is straight a religion of right the path (trod) by Abraham the true in faith and he (certainly) joined not gods with Allah." [6:159_161] Mujahid, Qatadah, Ad-Dahhak and As Suddi, said that this Ayah was revealed about the Jews and the Christians. Al Awfi said that Ibn Abbas commented, ‘Before Muhammad SAW, the Jews and Christians disputed and divided into sects. Allah sent His Messenger SAW with guidance and the Religion of Truth, so that He makes it victorious and dominant above all religions. In a similar Ayah , Allah said, <He (Allah) has ordained for you the same religion, which He ordained for Nuh, and that which We have revealed to you.> [42:13] A Hadith reads, “We, the Prophets, are half brothers but have one religion” [Fath al Bari 6:550] This, indeed, is the straight path which the Messengers have brought, and which commands worshipping Allah alone without partners, and adhering to the Law of the Last Messenger SAW whom Allah sent. 114 Verily, those who have attained faith [in this Divine writ-(Qur’an brought by Muhammad], as well as those who follow the Jewish faith, and the Christians, and the Sabians, All (those) who Believe in God and the Last Day, and perform good deeds- Shall have their reward with their Sustainer (Rabb), and no fear need they have, and neither shall they grieve. [Qur’an 2:62] So all the People of the Book and the polytheists, as well as the atheists, by which ever religion they are identified today are invited by Allah SWT to follow the way shown by Muhammad SAW, because he is the Mercy to all Nations. It is because of Muhammad SAW that the disbelievers 87

are granted respite from serious consequences [to who He Wills] until Qayamah, and in the end He will inform them, on the Day of Judgement where they differed. …And many human beings [submit to God consciously], whereas, many [others, having denied Him], will inevitably have to suffer [in the life to come], and he whom God shall scorn [on Resurrection Day] will have none who could bestow honour on him, for verily God does what He Wills. [Surah Hajj 22:18] According to Zamakhshari and Razi, this interpolated phrase, with its stress on ‘consciously’- the purport being that not all human beings do so consciously” 115 who shall eventually suffer the loss in the end from God’s Providence. Right now they are in the tenure of respite which may or may not continue until next moment, only God knows: Do they then wait until the angels come to them or there comes the Command of thy Lord (for their doom)? So did those who went before them. But Allah wronged them not: nay they wronged their own souls. [16:33] Will they wait until Allah comes to them in canopies of clouds with angels (in His train) and the question is (thus) settled? [2:210] …or certain of the signs of thy Lord! the day that certain of the signs of thy Lord do come, no good will it do to a soul to believe in them then…[6:158] Before the commencement of the Day of Resurrection, there will come signs and portents of the Last Hour that will be witnessed by the people living at that time. In a section explaining this Ayah, Al-Bukhari recorded that Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah SAW said: “The Last Hour will not commence until the sun rises from the west. When the people witness that, they will all believe. This is when: <…no good will it do to a soul to believe in them then, if he believed not before… [6:158]> Ibn Jarir recorded that Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah SAW said: “Three, if they appear, then a soul will not benefit from its faith, if it had not believed before or earned good in its faith: when the sun rises from the west, Ad-Dajjal and the Beast of the earth” [At-Tabari 12:265] Means, when the disbeliever believes then, it will not be accepted (by Allah then). This is a stern threat to the disbelievers and a sure promise for those who delay embracing the faith and repenting until a time when faith or repentance shall not avail. 116 (3.2.7) The Disbelieving Nations were Destroyed: 88

Prior to Muhammad SAW, the trend of Messengers was different. When ever the Message was conveyed, the disbelievers were instantly punished or wiped out of the earth. We shall see the archaeological finds of these destroyed nations in the later chapters. people Allah says: O Prophet, tell them: "Travel through the earth and see, what was the end of those who have passed away before you: most of them were mushrikin (worshipped other gods besides Allah)". Therefore stand firm in your devotion to the true faith before that Day arrives on which there will be no chance of averting from Allah. On that Day, they shall be divided in two groups. Those who disbelieved will bear the burden of their disbelief, and those who have done good deeds will be made ready for their home in paradise, [30:42_44] No doubt We raised in every nation a Rasool, saying: "Serve Allah and keep away from Taghut (Satanic forces)." After that, Allah guided some of them while deviation proved true against the others. So travel through the earth and see, what was the end of those who denied Our Message. [16:36] The unbelievers say: "What! When we and our fathers have become dust, shall we really be raised from the dead? This promise which is made to us was also made to our forefathers before us, these are nothing but the legends of primitive people." Say: "Travel through the earth and see what has been the end of the criminals." [27:67_69] He punishes whom He wills and shows mercy to whom He pleases, and to Him you shall be turned back. Neither can you frustrate Him in the earth or in the Heaven; nor have you any protector or helper besides Allah." [29:21_22] As for those who rejected the Divine Revelations, there have been many examples before you; therefore, travel through the earth and see, what was the end of those who rejected the truth. This (Al-Qur'an) is a clear declaration to mankind, a guidance and an admonition to those who fear Allah! [3:137_138] O Muhammad, say: "Travel through the earth and see, what was the end of those who denied the truth." Ask them: "To whom belongs all that is in the heavens and in the earth?" If they don't respond, tell them: "To Allah!" He has decreed mercy for Himself, that is why, He does not punish you for your misdeeds right away. He will certainly gather you all together on the Day of Resurrection; there is no doubt about it. Yet those who have lost their souls will not believe. [6:11_12] (3.2.8) Our Methodology: So what we are doing here, is that, we are looking for the clues and signs that God has revealed to us through this Qur’an, and matching them with the scientific finds that have been discovered in recent years. We also take into consideration, the religions of today, which fit into our hypothetical study. That is to say, if this is proven that any religion / community existing today had received the Heavenly Scripture from God, or had received the Messenger of God, but, the generations that followed them got deviated from this Religion of Truth, and followed instead the ways of the 89

misguided, then it becomes our duty to inform them regarding that. They are all invited to the Religion of Haq by following Muhammad SAW, who had come to confirm that what they already possessed in the yesteryears, and got polluted with the dust of time. And this is the Religion of Truth- to worship One God, without any partner/s. He has chosen you and has not laid upon you any hardship in the observance of your faith - the faith of your father Ibrahim (Abraham). He named you Muslims before in prior scriptures and in this (The Qur'an), so that His Rasool may testify against you and you yourselves may testify against rest of the mankind. Therefore, establish Salah, pay Zakah and hold fast to Allah; Who is your Protector - so what an excellent Protector and what a splendid Supporter! [22:78] If we bring these proofs, for logical and believing hearts, are enough reasons to think what they are follow is right or wrong. And the rest is on them. (3.2.9) Total Submission (Islam) comes with Obedience to the Messenger: Many people have formed the habit of misinterpreting the Ayahs of Qur’an and using them for their benefit. They have used these as an excuse to remain divided in their separate sects, rather than following the true Deen e Haq brought by Muhammad SAW. They started to think that it is enough to believe and worship in One God, and continue to remain a Christian, a Hindu, or a Jew. [And] think not that those who are bent on denying the truth can elude [their final reckoning, even if they remain unscathed] on earth: the fire is their goal [in the life to come], and vile indeed is such a journey’s end. [24:57] The polytheists of all periods have believed in Allah, so much so that they admit Him as the Supreme Lord and the Great God. They acknowledge Him as the Creator of the Universe and everything therein, and consider Him to be the Sovereign and the Provider of sustenance and the One who rules and regulates the universe, as mentioned in Sura 10 Yunus: Ask them: "Who provides your sustenance from the heaven and from the earth? Who has control over hearing and sight? Who brings forth the living from the dead and the dead from the living? Who regulates the universe?" They will soon reply: "Allah." [10:31] And Allah declares in Sura 29 Ankabooth: 117 If they embark on a ship, and the ship gets into trouble, they call upon Allah, being sincerely obedient to Him; but when He brings them safely to land, they start committing shirk (giving credit for their safe arrival to others); [29:65] On the other hand, from among the Muslims, are people, who have derived the wrong meaning of Islam. They think that the tag of a Muslim is enough to carry them to paradise, inspite of committing sins and crimes that are forbidden by the Prophet SAW. These are the people who have given Islam a bad name. Islam does not sanction such practices, which are innovations to the pure Deen brought by Rasool Allah SAW. For example Muslims of today, do not know that 90

obeying the instructions of corrupt leaders who judge not by the Book of Allah are committing serious ‘shirk’ (associating partners to God). It is the worship of Satan and not God. Surely the only Deen (true religion and the Right Way of life) in the sight of Allah is Al-Islam [or Submission to His Will]... [3:19] Islam is not the religion where Ibadah is kept separate and the rest of worldly activities separate. They are all one, because Islam teaches the complete codes of life. It tells us not only to how to pray, but also to how to maintain a society free from all evils. It does not restrict our freedom, but restrains the influence of Satan from our lives. All Prophets called their people to obey them, because to obey a Rasool is like the obedience of God. The message of all the Prophets was but to Worship One God and to Establish their Obedience regarding the customs and traditions that prevail in society. That is why Allah says: Thus this “Submission” (or the state of Islam, or the state of being a Muslim) cannot be attained simply by knowing that there is One God who is supposed to be worshipped, but also by submitting completely to the laws granted by Him for the described period of time, by their respective Prophet/s. For example even the devil knew that there is One God worthy of worship, but he refused to obey what God instructed him to do. So he became of the Kafiroon, i.e., those who refuse to obey God. Now when so many Prophets and Messengers come one after another, it is obvious that there will be points of unity and points of discord causing divisions and differences among the followers of different Prophets. Thus Allah says: If Allah had so willed succeeding generations would not have fought among each other after clear (Signs) had come to them but they (chose) to wrangle some believing and others rejecting. If Allah had so willed they would not have fought each other; but Allah fulfilleth His plan. [2:253] Just see how beautifully Allah unfolds His Plans. So we are next informed about the Covenant of the Prophets. All the Prophets had given the oath of allegiance to God that whenever a Messenger follows them, confirming the revelation that they already possessed, they should believe in his word and follow his instructions now. That is why a Messenger (Rasul) is a degree higher than the Prophet (Nabi), and is associated with bringing in a new law, abrogating the previous custom that was followed earlier. For example, to the followers of Rasul Allah SAW, the previous Qiblah or direction to pray, was changed from al Aqsa Mosgue in Palestine to Masjid al Haram in Makkah. 91

This did not mean that he brought a new religion for the Yahud (or Jews), but this was done as a great plan of Allah to sift the strong believers from the weaker ones. That is why those who denied or refused to follow Muhammad SAW are termed as Kuffar in the Qur’an, because how come, when you follow a previous Prophet sent by the same God, refuse to take the instructions of the new Apostle, when he confirms what you already possess? Denial of one Prophet is the denial of all Prophets. It would actually mean that you are alone denying Muhammad SAW, but also denying your own Messenger, who had actually told you about the Messenger/s who would follow after them. That is why to believe in all Prophets equally, without creating any difference among them all, is a part of the faith of Islam. The Apostle [Muhammad] believeth in what hath been revealed to him from his Lord as do the men of faith. Each one (of them) believeth in Allah, His angels, His books, and His Apostles. "We make no distinction (they say) between one and another of His Apostles." And they say: "We hear and we obey; (We seek) Thy forgiveness Our Lord and to Thee is the end of all journeys." [2:285] It was the job of the Prophets to inform its people, the events that follow after their death, so that the followers can make out the truth from false. Allah says: ...Those to whom the Book was given did not adopt ways different than this except out of envy among themselves, and after the true knowledge had come to them. They should know that Allah is swift in calling to account those who deny His revelations. [3:19] Our Hypothesis thus, is based on the common and primary teaching of all Prophets- to worship One God, which can only be attained with complete submission to Allah by obeying what the Prophet in their times had asked their people to follow, and that is to follow Muhammad SAW, the Last Prophet and Messenger of God. Indeed We have revealed to you the Book with the Truth, so that you may rule between mankind by that which Allah has shown you. [4:105] (3.2.10) Why Sects Emerged? If Allah had so willed succeeding generations would not have fought among each other after clear (Signs) had come to them but they (chose) to wrangle some believing and others rejecting. If Allah had so willed they would not have fought each other; but Allah fulfilleth His plan. [2:253] The Qur’an alludes to the inevitability of dissension among human beings: in other words, it is the Will of God that their way to the truth should be marked by conflicts and trial by error. 118 Now here we reach at a very critical point of thought that many non believers are unable to come at peace with, and that is that, if it is God who created ‘Evil’, how come we are supposed to be punished for that evil? 92

This is not the right notion. The worshippers of false gods say: "If Allah had so willed we should not have worshipped aught but Him neither we nor our fathers nor should we have prescribed prohibitions other than His." So did those who went before them. But what is the mission of apostles but to preach the Clear Message? For We assuredly sent amongst every People an apostle (with the Command) "Serve Allah and eschew Evil": of the people were some whom Allah guided and some on whom Error became inevitably (established). So travel through the earth and see, what was the end of those who denied (the Truth). If thou art anxious for their guidance yet Allah guideth not such as He leaves to stray and there is none to help them. [16:36_37] Remember God’s Words when He sent Adam AS, Eve and Iblis from Paradise to Earth: We said: "Get ye down all from here; and if as is sure there comes to you guidance from Me" whosoever follows My guidance on them shall be no fear nor shall they grieve. "But those who reject Faith and belie Our Signs they shall be Companions of the Fire; they shall abide therein." [2:38_39] God’s Purpose behind sending so many Prophets and Messengers was not to create confusion and deviations in the teachings of One God, but rather to strengthen the Belief and faith in Allah SWT. Allah states that He sent all His Messengers with the religion of Islam, although THEIR RESPECTIVE LAWS DIFFERED FROM EACH OTHER, and some of them abrogated others. Later on, THE LAW SENT WITH MUHAMMAD SAW ABROGATED ALL PREVIOUS LAWS, and nothing will ever abrogate it, forever. 119 This Law of abrogation is based on the COVENANT WHICH ALLAH TOOK OF THE PROPHETS, (3.2.11) The Covenant of the Prophets: <wa- 'idh 'akhadha 'allaah methaaq an- nabeyen la- maa 'aataytu -kum min kitaab wa- h.ikmah thumma jaa'a –kum rasol mus.addiq li- maa maca -kum la- tu'minunna bi- -hi wa- la- tans.urunna –hu> Behold! Allah took the covenant of the Prophets saying: "I give you a Book and Wisdom; then comes to you an Apostle confirming what is with you; do ye believe him and render him help..." [3:81] The above Ayah informs us about the Covenant of the Prophets that Allah took from all Prophets concerning the Apostle who comes after them, confirming that what they already possessed. In that condition they were asked to believe in him and support him. On this, the Prophets replied, when asked: 93

<qaala 'a- aqrartum wa- 'akhadhtum calaa dhaalikum 'is.r -e qaalo aqrarnaa qaala fa- ishhado wa- 'anaa maca -kum min ash- shaahiden. fa- man tawallaa bacda dhaalika fa- 'olaa'ika hum al- faasiqon> Allah said: "Do ye agree and take this My Covenant as binding on you?" They said: "We agree." He said: "Then bear witness and I am with you among the witnesses. "If any turn back after this they are perverted transgressors. [3:81, 82] And then this is followed by the Ayah: <a- fa- ghayr den 'allaah yabghon wa- la- -hu aslama man fe as- samaawaat wa- al- 'ard. t.awc(an) wa- karh(an) wa- 'ilay -hi yurjacon> Do they seek for other than the Religion of Allah? While all creatures in the heavens and on earth have willing or unwilling bowed to His Will (accepted Islam) and to Him shall they all be brought back. [3:83] The above order is maintained according to Zamakhshari, because it is actually ‘a pledge taken from the community as a whole: a pledge consisting in their acceptance to the messages conveyed through the Prophets. 120 According to Maulana Maududi as well, “…All the Prophets had been asked to pledge- and the pledge of a Prophet, is automatically binding upon his followers—that they would support every Prophet that God sent to preach, and establish His religion, for which cause they had been designated. The followers of the Prophets, were thus required neither to disregard, out of narrow- mindedness and bigotry, the Prophets who were to appear in the future, nor consider themselves the exclusive representatives, of the true faith, nor to oppose the truth. On the contrary, they should muster around anyone who raised the banner of Islam. It is useful to point out that the Prophets before Muhammad (SAW) had to take this pledge, and this is why every Prophet announced to his followers, the coming of other Prophets in the future, and directed them to support those Prophets whenever they appeared. 121 The Ayah in question (3:81), has got two interpretations in the opinion of the mufassirins: The first being-that Allah took the Covenant IN GENERAL, from all Prophets regarding ANY APOSTLE who follows them to be supported and believed and followed, thus abrogating the previous laws if required. The second being-that Allah took the Covenant ESPECIALLY from all the Prophets regarding THE APOSTLE MUHAMMAD SAW, that when he comes, all must follow what he brings with him, abrogating the previous laws if required. Whichever interpretation we may take, both ways the meaning would be same. 94

Hazrat Tawus, Hasan Basri and Qataadah (RH) are of the view that this is a general oath taken by all the Prophets so that they support and follow the Apostle coming after them. [Tafseer Ibn Katheer]. 122 In this condition, every Prophet was made to make a promise, that if an Apostle comes confirming that what they already possessed, they should abandon their prophethood and instead support and follow the latter one. This explanation covers both the contexts of “Rasulun Musaddiqun”, and is seemingly more appropriate. 123 (3.2.12) Why do Shariahs differ in essence or get abrogated? We believe that a new ordinance may partially or totally nullify old ordinances. For example, it was permissible for Adam’s sons and daughters marry each other, and this was later nullified. According to the ordinance of Jacob (AS) it was permissible for a man to marry two sisters, and this was later nullified. The Gospel made permissible things forbidden by the Torah. The Qurán has nullified some laws of the Gospel and the Torah. Allah (SWT) says: <Those who follow the Messenger, the Prophet who can neither read nor write [i.e., Muhammad] whom they find written with them in the Taurat [Torah] and the Injeel [Gospel]--- He commands for them Al-Ma’ruf [i.e., Islamic Monotheism and all that Islam has ordained]; and forbids them Al-Munkar [i.e., disbelief, polytheism of all kinds, and all that Islam has forbidden]; he allows them as lawful At-Tayyibaat [i.e., all good and lawful as regards things, deeds, beliefs, persons, foods], he prohibits them as unlawful At-Khabaaíth [i.e., all evil and unlawful as regards things, deeds, beliefs, persons, foods], he releases them from their heavy burdens [of Allah’s Covenant with the Children of Israel], and fro m the fetters [bindings] that were upon them…> (Qurán 7:157) < And I have come confirming that which was before me of the Taurat [Torah], and to make lawful to you part of that which was forbidden to you…> (Qurán 3:50) The religion sent down to all Messengers was the same (i.e., Islam) but the regulations of each were different from those of the others. Thus the law with Jesus (AS) was different from that with Moses (AS) on some issues, and the legislation of Muhammad (SAW) is different from both Jesus (AS) and Moses (AS). Allah (SWT) says: < To each among you, We have prescribed a law and a clear way> (Qurán 5:48) But that does not mean that the ordinances were completely different. They agreed on the principles, prayers, Zakaat, Pilgrimage, and so on, and differed in the details. The number of prayers and their conditions, the amount of Zakaat, may differ from one ordinance to the other. We give the following examples: First, the faster used to break fasting at sunset, and was allowed food drink and sexual intercourse all night till dawn, provided that he did not sleep. In case of sleeping before dawn, 95

all the above were prohibited till sunset of the following day. But this was altered and Muslims are not allowed food, drink and sexual intercourse from sunset to dawn even in case of sleeping before dawn….Qurán 2:187. Second: Covering the private parts was not compulsory for the Sons of Israel while taking a bath, as in the Hadith narrated by Bukhari and Muslim: “The Sons of Israel used to bathe naked, looking at each other, but Moses (AS) used to do so alone.” Third: Prohibitions, as when Allah (SWT) made it permissible for Adam (AS) to marry his daughters to his sons, which was later prohibited. Marrying two sisters at the same time was permissible at the time of Jacob (AS) (Jacob himself did so) but was abrogated in the Torah. Jacob (AS) forbade himself camel’s milk and meat, the reason being narrated in the following Hadith: “Jacob (AS) had a long, severe sickness, during which he made a vow: ‘if cured from sickness, I will forbid myself my favorite food and drink,’ which at the time, was camel’s meat and milk.” This food was also forbidden to the Sons of Israel, and also forbidden in the Torah: < All food was lawful to the Sons of Israel, except what Israel made unlawful for himself before the Taurat [Torah] was revealed…> (Qurán 3:93) What was made unlawful for the Jews was shown in this Quránic verse: < And unto those who are Jews, We forbade every [animal] with undivided hoof, and We forbade them the fat of the ox and the sheep except what adheres to their backs, or their entrails, or is mixed up with a bone. Thus We recompensed them for their rebellion [committing crimes like murdering the Prophets and eating Riba (usury)]. And verily We are truthful.> (Qurán 6:146) This interdiction for the Sons of Israel was not because the things forbidden were harmful, but because of their father’s vow and because of their sinful deeds: < For the wrong doing of the Jews, We made unlawful for them certain good foods which had been lawful for them—and for their hindering many from Allah’s Way> (Qurán 4:160) Then came Jesus (AS) and made lawful to the Sons of Israel some of that which used to be prohibited for them: < … And to make lawful to you part of that which was forbidden to you…> (Qurán 3:50) The Prophets are half- brothers: The Prophet (SAW) set a parable about the Prophets’ accord in religion and differing in legislation, saying: ‘The Prophets are half-brothers: their mothers are different, but their religion is the same’.124 96

Why do the religious laws propounded by the various prophets differ in matters of detail, even though the Prophets and their Books preach one and the same religion (din), and even confirm and support each other? Why is it that in regard to the prescribed forms of worship, the regulations concerning what is permitted and what is prohibited, and the detailed legal regulations governing the social and collective life, there is some disagreement among the various laws propounded by the different Prophets and the Divine Books? This constitutes a detailed answer to the above question consisting of the following points: (1)It is a mistake to think that variation in religious laws result from a difference of source. It is God Himself who altered the legal prescriptions to suit different nations at different tmes, and in different circumstances. (2) It was indeed possible, by divising one legal code for all human beings, for all men to have been made into one nation (ummah). But one of the many benevolent considerations, keeping the religious laws of various Prophets different from one another was that God wanted this difference to become a means of testing people. Those who understand religion, who have grasped its spirit and essence, and who are aware of the true importance of different legal prescriptions, always recognise the truth, and accept it whatever its form. They have no hesitation in accepting the new ordinances of God in place of the old ones, in contrast to those who are not conversant with the spirit of true religion, and who seem to identify it with a specific body of legal minutae. Such people have overlaid God given principles with their own legal deductions, and have subsequently fossilized this entire amalgam, seeking to preserve it in its entirety. They have grown so attached to it that, in order to preserve it, they spun every directive which subsequently comes to them from God. In order to distinguish the people of first category from those of the second. God made the legal prescriptions of various Prophets vary. (3) The real purpose of all the divine religious laws is the attainment of goodness and righteousness. This purpose can be achieved only when a man obeys whatever commandment he receives from God at a particular time. The proper mode of conduct for people who keep their eyes fixed on this true purpose is to strive for God’s good pleasure rather than quarrel about differences in the legal prescriptions of the various Prophets. (4)The differences which have arisen because of the unjustified rigidity, prejudice, obduracy and erroneous attitudes of the human mind can be finally settled neither in the debating hall nor on the battlefield. The final judgement will be made by God Himself. Then the reality of everything will be fully uncovered, and it will be clear how much truth and falsehood underlay the squabbles which whole lives were wasted over. 125 (3.2.13) Muhammad SAW abrogates Shariahs of all Previous Prophets: 1. One of the fundamentals of Faith in Islam which is known as an essential part of the religion and upon which all Muslims have agreed, is that there is no true religion on the earth except Islam, and that it is the final religion which abrogated all previous religions and creeds. 97

Therefore, no other religion remains on earth by which Allah can be worshipped except Islam. Allah the Most High says, “And whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted of him, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers.” [Al-Qur'aan 3:85]. 2. One of the fundamentals of faith in Islam is that Allah’s Book (the Qur'aan) is the last Book that was revealed by the Cherisher of the Worlds. It abrogated all the Books revealed by Allah before it such as the Torah, the Psalms, and the Bible and as such, no other Book has been left by which Allah can be worshipped except the Qur'aan. Allah the Most High says, “And We have sent down to you (O Muhammad) the Book (the Qur'aan) in truth, confirming the Scriptures that came before it and trustworthy in highness and a witness over it (old scriptures). So judge between them by what Allah has revealed, and follow not their vain desires.” [Al-Qur'aan 5:48]. 3. It is our belief that both the Torah and the Bible were abrogated by the Qur'aan, and that they were changed by means of additions or deletions by their followers. This was indicated in some verses of Allah’s Book – the Noble Qur'aan. Allah the Most High says in His Qur'aan, “So because of their breach of their covenant, We cursed them, and made their hearts grow hard. They change the words from their (right) places and have abandoned a good part of the Message that was sent to them. And you will not cease to discover deceit in them, except a few of them.” [Al-Qur'aan 5:13]. “Then woe to those who write the Book with their own hands and then say, ‘This is from Allah.’ To purchase with it a little price! Woe to them for what their hands have written and woe to them for that they earn thereby.” [Al-Qur'aan 2:79]. “And verily, among them is a party who distort the Book with their tongue (as they read), so that you may think it is from the Book, but it is not from the Book, and they say, ‘This is from Allah’, but it is not from Allah; and they speak a lie against Allah while they know it”. [Al-Qur'aan 3:78] Accordingly, even whatever is considered as correct in these Books, has been abrogated by Islam. The remaining parts are altered. This is proved by the following incident. The Prophet (sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam) got angry when he saw Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab holding a sheet containing some verse from the Torah and he said to him, “O! Omar! Are you in doubt? Have I not brought it (the Message) as clear as white? If my brother Musa ('alaihi salaam) had been alive, he would have followed me”. [Narrated by Ahmed, Ad-Daarimi and others.] 4. Another fundamental of Faith in Islam is that our Prophet and Messenger Muhammad (sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam) is the seal of all the prophets and messengers. Allah says 98

“Muhammad (sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam) is not the father of any man among you, but he is the Messenger of Allah and the last (end) of the Prophets. And Allah is Ever all-Aware of everything.” [Al- Qur'aan 33:40]. As such, no other messenger is left to be followed except Muhammad (sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam). If any of Allah’s prophets and messengers had been alive, they too along with their followers would have followed Muhammad (sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam). Allah the Most High says, “And (Remember) when Allah took the Covenant of the Prophets, saying ‘Take whatever I gave you from the Book and Hikmah (understanding of the Laws of Allah, etc) and afterwards there will come to you a Messenger (Muhammad) confirming what is with you. You must then believe in him and help him’. Allah said: ‘ Do you agree (to it) and will you take up My covenant (which I conclude with you)?’ They said, ‘We agree’. He said ‘ Then bear witness; and I am with you among the witnesses (for this)” . [Al-Qur'aan 3:81] When Jesus ('alaihi salaam), the prophet of Allah comes in the later time, he will follow Muhammad (sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam) and rule according to Muhammad’s legislation. Allah the Most High says, “Those who follow the Messenger, the Prophet who can neither read not write (Muhammad ) whom they find written with them in the Tauraah (Torah) – (Deut.cviii,15) and the Injeel (Gospel John xiv,16.)” [Al-Qur'aan 7:157]. In addition, one of the basic pillars of faith in Islam is that Muhammad (sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam) was sent to all human beings, and Allah says, “Say (O Muhammad) ‘O mankind! Verily, I am sent to you all as the Messenger of Allah – to Whom belongs the dominion of the heaven and the earth, none has the right to be worshipped but He.” [Al-Qur'aan 7:158]. 5. One of the fundamentals of Islam is that any Jew or Christian who does not embrace Islam should be considered and designated as an unbeliever (Kafir) as well as an enemy of Allah, of His messengers and the Believers ( Muminoon ), and such people will be the people of the Fire in accordance to Allah’s Saying that, “Those who disbelieve from among the people of the Scriptures (Jews and Christians) and among al-Mushrikin, were not going to leave (their disbelief) until there came to them clear evidence." [Al-Qur'aan 98:1]. And Allah Says, “Verily, those who disbelieve (in the religion of Islam, the Qur'aan and Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam)) from among the people of the Scriptures (Jews and Christians) and al-Mushrikin will abide in the Fire of Hell. They are the worst of creatures.” [Al-Qur'aan 98:6] It was narrated in Sahih Muslim that the Prophet (sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said, 99

“Anyone of this Ummah, whether a Jew or a Christian who heard about me and died without believing in what was revealed to me, he will be among the people of the Hell- Fire” . Based on the above, anyone who does not charge Jews and Christians with Kufr will be a Kaafir himself according to the Shari’ah principle. (i.e. Anyone who does not charge the Kaafir with Kufr will be Kaafir himself.) 6. Adulterating the fundamentals of Islamic Faith and the facts of Islamic law (Shari’ah) to serve the call (for the unification of religions), by mixing them together and casting them in one mold is but a wicked call. It aims at mixing the Truth with Falsehood, destroying Islam, demolishing its foundations and bringing all Muslims to clear apostasy (Riddah). This can be seen in the saying of Allah the Most High, “And they will never cease fighting you until they turn you back from your religion (Islamic Monotheism) if they can.” [Al-Qur'aan 2:217]. Allah Says: “They wish that you reject Faith, as they have rejected (Faith), and thus that you all become equal (like one another).” [Al-Qur'aan 4:89] 126 (3.2.14) The Seal of all Prophets: //maa kaana muh.ammad 'abaa 'ah.ad min rijaal -kum wa- laakin rasol 'allaah wa- khaatam an- nabeyen wa- kaana 'allaah bi- kull shay' calem(an)// “Muhammad is not the father of any of your men but (he is) the Apostle of Allah and the Seal of the Prophets: and Allah has full knowledge of all things.” [Qurán: 33:40] When the document is sealed it is complete, and there can be no further addition. The Holy Prophet Muhammad closed the long chain of Messengers. Allah’s teaching is and will always be continuous, but there has been and will be no Prophet after Muhammad. The later Ages will want thinkers and reformers, not Prophets. 127 In the above verse Allah berates the people of Jahilliyah who mocked Prophet Muhammad SAW for taking his adopted son Zaid bin Haris’ (RA) divorcee as his wife, thus the words that Muhammad is not the father of any one of your men (rijaal), although he (SAW) was a father of four sons—three from Hazrat Khadija (RA) viz, Qasim Tayyib and Tahir; and one from Hazrat Marya Qibtiyah (RA), called Ibrahim who was yet to be born; although they all died prematurely by the Hikmat of Allah SWT, thus the word “rijaal”. Further, on any lingering doubts that would have persisted on the opening words of the Ayah were rubbed off with the words: “but (he is) the Apostle of Allah” because being an Apostle of Allah, under ‘Ubuwwah’-ship he automatically becomes the spiritual father of the whole Muslim Ummah. So this has been emphasized with ‘lakin’. Thus the first part of the Ayah would stand to mean that Muhammad is not the real father of any man, but the spiritual father of the whole Ummah. 100

As to the term: “Khatim”, taken by Imam Hasan RA and Asim RA, it stands for stamp or seal, and the seal is always put at the end of the document. So, in any case, Khatam or Khatim the conclusion would be the same. All Arabic texts like Qamus, Sahah, Lisan al Arab, Taij al Arus, etc have same meanings. That is why in the exegesis Ruh al Maani, the word Khatim means stamp or last. The similar lines are found in Baidhawi and Ahmadi exegesis’. Imam Raghib quotes in his Mafrudaat al Qurán: Prophet SAW is called Khatimi Nubuwwat because his arrival ended prophethood and completed it. Mahkam Ibn Subdah says Khatim and Khatimah are the conclusions or the end of every thing. To Imam Ibn Katheer, the reason why the term “Nabi” is used instead of Khatam ar “Rasul”or “Mursaleen”, is because Nabi is more commonly used in comparison with Rasul. So when there is no Nabi, there is no Rasul as well. Qurán also bears testimony to this fact in the following Ayah: <This day have I perfected your religion for you completed my favor upon you and have chosen for you Islam as your religion.> (5:3) The religions of the previous prophets were also complete in their respected tenures. But special place is given to deeni Mustafa SAW which is a reminder for the formers and the latters. Thus the Prophet SAW defined all events to take place until Qayamah. Had there been another Prophet to come after him, he definitely would not have skipped it out to mention that as well. The Muslims of all ages are united on the matter that Rasul Allah Saw was the Last Prophet and Paighambar, and there would be no Prophet after him. Anyone proclaiming otherwise is a Kazib and Kafir. The Qadiani sect has introduced a number of confusions, one of which is that, how then could Isa (AS) follow Muhammad SAW, as prophesied to be coming in the end days. Imam Ibn Katheer has said in his Tafseer that: the meaning of the Prophet SAW to be the Khatam an Nabiyeen is that the Wusfi Nubuwwat has come to an end after the Prophet. That is, no one shall get this designation and office now. This has no affect over the fact that Isa (AS) shall return in the end days before Qayamah because he received the Nubuwwah before our Nabi SAW. 128 “Seal of all Prophets”, i.e., the last of all Prophets, just as a seal (khatam) marks the end of a document; apart from this the term khatam is also synonymous with khitam, the end or conclusion of a thing from which it follows that the message revealed through Muhammad- the Qurán must be regarded as the culmination and end of all prophetic revelation. Because of the universal applicability and textual incorruptibility of its teachings as well as of the fact that Prophet Muhammad is the Seal of Prophets, i.e., the last of them, the Qurán represents the culminating point of all revelation, and offers the final, perfect way to spiritual fulfilment. “And [thus, O Prophet] We have sent thee as [an evidence of Our] Mercy towards all the worlds”. (Qurán 21:107) 101

The universality of the Qur’anic revelation arises from three factors: firstly, its appeal to all mankind irrespective of descent, race or cultural environment; secondly the fact that it appeals exclusively to man’s reason, and, hence, does not postulate any dogma that could be accepted on the basis of blind faith alone; and finally, the fact that- contrary to all sacred scriptures known to history- the Qurán has remained entirely unchanged in its wording ever since its revelation fourteen centuries ago and will, because it is so widely recorded, forever remain so in accordance with the divine promise, ‘It is We Who shall guard it [from all corruption]’ (15:9). It is by the virtue of these three factors that the Qurán represents the final stage of all divine revelation, and that the Prophet through whom it has been conveyed to mankind is stated to have been the last [in Qur’anic terminology, “the seal”] of all Prophets. 129 Abd al-Rahman ibn Jubayr said, “I heard ‘Abd Allah bin Amr ibn al-As saying this; one day the Holy Prophet came to us. The expression of his face indicated as if he was going to depart from us and said: ‘I am Prophet Muhammad: who can neither read nor write’. (he repeated these words three times) and there is no Prophet after me’. [Bayhaqi, Kitab-ur-Ruya] Imam Ghazali has said: There is complete agreement in the whole of the ummah on the injunction (There is no prophethood after me). It signifies the fact that no prophet would be raised after Muhammad. This injunction is so clear and unequivocal that it leaves no scope—not at least for any other interpretation. Anyone who interprets in any other way is an unbeliever, his writing is nonsensical and his interpretation is fit to be called a heresy and its writer a Kafir: since he is falsifying that very fundamental on which there is consensus in the ummah. [Al- Istisad fi al I’tiqad, p.113, quoted by Maududi in his Tafhim] 130 According to Arabic lexicon and the linguistic usage Khatam means to affix seal; to close, to come to an end; and to carry something to its ultimate end. Khatama al-'Amala is equivalent to 'Faragha min al-'Almali' which means 'to get over with the task.' 'Khatama al-Ina' bears the meaning 'The vessel has been closed and sealed so that nothing can go into it, nor can its contents spill out.' 'Khatam-al-kitab' conveys the meaning 'The letter has been enclosed and sealed so that it is finally secured.' 'Khatama-'Ala-al-Qalb' means 'The heart has been sealed so that it cannot perceive anything new nor can it forswear what it has already imbibed.' 'Khitamu-Kulli-Mashrubin' implies 'the final taste that is left in the mouth when the drink is over.' Katimatu Kulli Shaiinn 'Aqibatuhu wa Akhiratuhu means "The end in the case of everything denotes its doom and ultimate finish." Khatm-ul-Shaii Balagha Akhirahu conveys the sense, "To end a thing means to carry it to its ultimate limit." The term Khatam-i-Qur'an is used in the similar sense and the closing verses of Qur'anic Surahs are referred to as Khawatim. Khatim-ul-Qaum Akhirhuum means "The last man in the tribe." (Refer to Lisan-ul-'Arab; Qamus and Aqrab-ul- Muwarid). 102

For this reason all linguists and commentators agree that Khatam-ul-Nabiyyin means 'The Last in the line of Prophets.' The word Khatam in its dictionary meaning and linguistic usage does not refer to the post office stamp which is affixed on the outgoing mail. Its literal meaning is the 'seal' which is but on the envelope to secure its contents. (3.2.15) The Observations of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) About the Finality of Prophethood: The meaning of the word Khatam that emerges out of the context of the Holy Qur'an and which is the same as given in all lexicons of the Arabic language is also affirmed by the observations of the Holy Prophet(peace and blessings be upon him). We quote some authentic traditions to illustrate the case in point: • The Holy Prophet (PBUH) observed: "The tribe of Israel was guided by prophets. When a prophet passed away, another prophet succeeded him. But no prophet will come after me; only caliphs will succeed me." (Bukhari, Kitab-ul-Manaqib). • The Prophet of God (PBUH) affirmed: "My position in relation to the prophets who came before me can be explained by the following example: A man erected a building and adorned this edifice with great beauty, but he left an empty niche, in the corner where just one brick was missing. People looked around the building and marvelled at its beauty, but wondered why a brick was missing from that niche? I am like unto that one missing brick and I am the last in the line of the Prophets." (Bukhari, Kitab-ul-Manaqib). Four traditions relating to this subject are recorded, in Muslim, Kitab-ul-Fada'il, Babu Khatimin-Nabiyyin. The latter tradition contains the following additional sentence. "So I came and in me the line of Prophets has ended." The very same tradition in similar words has been reported in Tirmidhi, Kitab-ul- Manaqib, Bab-Fadlin Nabi and Kitab-Adab, Bab-ul-Amthal. In Musnad Abu Dawud Tayalisi this tradition has been incorporated among other traditions reported by Jabir bin Abdullah; and its last sentence reads, "It is in me that line of Prophets came to its final end." Musnad Ahmad contains traditions reported by Hadrat Ubayyi bin Ka'b, Hadrat Abu Sa'id Khudri and Hadrat Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with them) on the same subject with a slight variation of words here and there. • The Prophet of Allah (PBUH) affirmed: "The chain of Messengers and Prophets has come to an end. There shall be no Messenger nor Prophet after me." (Tirmidhi, Kitab- ur-Rouya Babu Zahab-un- Nubuwwa, Musnad Ahmad, Marwiyat-Anas bin Malik) • The Holy Prophet (PBUH) observed: "I am Muhammad, I am Ahmad, I am the effacer and infidelity shall be erased through me; I am the assembler. People shall be assembled on Doomsday after my time. (In other words Doom is my only successor.) And I am the last in the sense that no prophet shall succeed me." (Bukhari and Muslim, Kitab-ul-Fada'il, Bab: Asmaun-Nabi; Tirmidhi, Kitab-ul- Adab, Bab: Asma-un-Nabi; Muatta', Kitab-u-Asma in-Nabi, Al- Mustadrak Hakim, Kitab-ut-Tarikh, Bab: Asma-un- Nabi.) • The Prophet of God (PBUH) observed: "God Almighty hath sent unto the world no apostle who did not warn his people about the appearance of Dajjal ( Anti-Christ, but 103

Dajjal did not appear in their time). I am the last in the line of Prophets and ye are the last community of believers. Without doubt,then, Dajjal shall appear from amongst ye". (Ibn Majah, Kitabul-fitan, bab:Dajjal). • 'Abdur Rahman bin Jubair reported: "I heard Abdullah bin 'Amr ibn-'As narrating that one day the Holy Prophet (PBUH) came out of his house and joined our company. His manner gave us the impression as if he were leaving us.' He said, 'I am Muhammad, the unlettered prophet of Allah' and repeated this statement three times. Then he affirmed: "There will be no prophet after me'."(Musnad Ahmad, Marwiyat'Abdullah bin Amr ibn'- As.) • The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "Allah will send no Apostle after me, but only Mubashshirat. It was said: what is meant by al-Mubashshirat. He said : Good vision or pious vision". (Musnad Ahmad, Marwiyat Abu Tufail, Nasa'i, Abu Dawud) (In other words there is no possibility of Divine revelation in future. At the most if some one receives an inspiration from Allah he will receive it in the form of "pious dream." • The Holy Prophet (PBUH) said: "If an Apostle were to succeed me, it would have been 'Umar bin Khattab." (Tirmidhi,Kitab-ul- Manaqib) • The Holy Prophet (PBUH) told Hadrat 'Ali, "You are related to me as Aaron was related to Moses(peace be upon him). But no Apostle will come after me." (Bukhari and Muslim, Kitab Fada'il as-Sahaba) This tradition is recorded in Bukhari and Muslim in the account of the Battle of Tabuk also. Musnad records two traditions narrated by Hadrat Sa'd bin Abi Waqqas ( may Allah be pleased with him) on this subject. The last sentence in one of these traditions runs as follows : "Behold there is no prophethood after me." • Thauban reports: "The Holy Prophet (PBUH) observed: And there will arise Thirty imposters in my Ummah and each one of them will pronounce to the world that he is a prophet, but I am the last in the line of the Prophets of God and no Apostle will come after me." (Abu Dawud, Kitab-ul-Fitan) Abu Dawud in 'Kitab-ul-Malahim' has recorded another tradition reported by Abu Huraira in the same subject. Tirmidhi has also recorded these two traditions as reported by Hadrat Thauban and Hadrat Abu Huraira. The text of the second tradition runs thus: "It will come to this that thirty imposters will arise and each one of them will put forth his claim to be the Apostle of God." • The Holy Prophet (PBUH) observed: "Among the tribe of Israel who went before you there indeed were such people who held communion with God, even though they were not his Prophets. If ever there arose a person from among my people who would hold communion with God, it would be none else but 'Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)." (Bukhari, Kitab-ul-Manaqib) A version of this same tradition in `Muslim' contains Muhaddithuna instead of Yukallimuna. But then Mukalima and Muhaddith bear identical meaning i.e., a man enjoys the privilege of holding direct communion with God or a person who is addressed by the Almighty from the unseen. Thus we conclude that if there had been any person 104

among the followers of Muhammad who could hold communion with God without being raised to the dignity of prophethood, it would have been `Umar. • The Prophet of God (PBUH) said: "No Prophet will come after me and there will, therefore, be no other community of followers of any new prophet." (Baihaqi,Kitab-ul Rouya; Tabarani) • The Holy Prophet (PBUH) observed: "I am the last in line of the prophets of God and my Masjid is the last Masjid (referring the holy Masjid of the Prophet)." (Muslim, Kitab-ul- Hajj; Bab:Fadl-us-Salat bi Masjidi Mecca wal Medina) A large number of such traditions of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) have been reported by the companions and a great many compilers have recorded them from authoritative sources. A study of these traditions shows that the Holy Prophet on several occasions, and in various ways and in different words made it explicitly clear that he was the last Prophet of God; That no prophet would follow him and that the line of prophets had ended in him. Furthermore, those would claim to be Prophets and Messengers of God after his time would be imposters and liars. There can be no authentic, creditable and conclusive interpretation of the words of the Holy Qur'an, Khatam-un- Nabiyyin, than that given by the Holy Prophet (PBUH) for the credentials of the Holy prophet (PBUH) need no proof and the authority of his words is unassailable. His words are authentic and a proof in itself. When the Prophet is explaining a Nass of the Holy Quran, his explanation is the most authentic and a proof positive. • The Holy Prophet (PBUH) observed: "God has bestowed upon me six favors which the former Prophets did not enjoy: o I have been endowed with the gift of pithy and perfect speech. o I was granted victory owing to my awe. o The spoils of war were made lawful unto me. o The whole earth has been made the place of worship for me and it has become the means of purification for me also. In other words in my religion, offering of prayers is not confined to certain specified places of worship. Prayers can be offered at any place over the earth. And in case water is not available it is lawful for my people to perform ablutions with earth (Tayammum) and to cleanse themselves with the soil if water for bathing is scarce. o I have been sent by Allah to carry His Divine message to the whole world. o And the line of prophets has come to its final end in me. (Muslim, Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah) 131 <Narrated Jabir bin Abdullah(RA): The Prophet said, "I have been given five things which were not given to any one else before me. (a) Allah made me victorious by awe, (by His frightening my enemies) for a distance of one month's journey. (b) The earth has been made for me (and for my followers) a place for praying and a thing to perform Tayammum, therefore anyone of my followers can pray wherever the time of a prayer is due. 105

(c) The booty has been made Halal (lawful) for me yet it was not lawful for anyone else before me. (d) I have been given the right of intercession (on the Day of Resurrection). (e) Every Prophet used to be sent to his nation only but I have been sent to all mankind. <Narrated Abu Huraira(RA): The Prophet said, "The Israelis used to be ruled and guided by prophets: Whenever a prophet died, another would take over his place. There will be no prophet after me, but there will be Caliphs who will increase in number." The people asked, "O Allah's Apostle! What do you order us (to do)?" He said, "Obey the one who will be given the pledge of allegiance first. Fulfil their (i.e. the Caliphs) rights, for Allah will ask them about (any shortcoming) in ruling those Allah has put under their guardianship."> 132 This demonstrates that after SAW the guidance, management and expansion shall be borne by the Khalifas (Caliphs) who shall play role models of the Prophet. 133 (3.4) ISLAM AND IMAN : Islam and Iman are terms that include the entire religion. When they are mentioned in one place- then Islam means the outwardly performed deeds, while Iman refers to the affairs of the inside, such as belief. 134 The Messenger of Allah (saas) said: Al-Islam implies that you testify that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah, and you establish prayer, pay Zakat, observe the fast of Ramadan, and perform pilgrimage to the (House) if you are solvent enough (to bear the expense of) the journey. He (the inquirer) said: You have told the truth..." 106

About Iman (faith). He (the Holy Prophet) said: That you affirm your faith in Allah, in His Angels, in His Books, in His Apostles, in the Day of Judgment, and you affirm your faith in the Divine Decree about good and evil. 135 The two short sentences: “La Ilaha Il-Allah”, i.e., there is no god but Allah; “Muhammad ur- Rasulullah”, i.e., Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, are called ‘iman mujmal’ or brief expression of faith. Iman ‘mufassal’ is set forth in the very beginning of the holy Qurán as follows: • A belief in the unseen (i.e., God) • A belief in that which was revealed to the holy Prophet Muhammad • And in that which was revealed to the Prophets before him • And a belief in the Hereafter (2: 2_4) The five principles of faith are: “That one should 1. Believe in Allah 2. And the Last Day 3. And the Angels 4. And the Books 5. And the Prophets” (2:177) But in some hadith, the words are added: 6. Belief in Qadar.136 (3.5) ISLAMIC MORALITY Islamic Morality consists of four stages: 1) Iman (the lowest state of Islam or acknowledging the truth inside the heart) 2) Islam (the surrender to the Shari’ah of the Prophet Muhammad SAW and what he brought) 3) Taqwa (Fear of Allah and His orders- the more the better) 4) Ihsan (the highest state or the complete conformity with Islam). REFERENCES 97. M. Asad, Al-Alim notes: 33 to 13:15, and 22 to 22:18 98. S.M.N. Al-Attas, Islam, Secularism and the Philosophy of the Future, London: Mansell Publishing Limited, 1985, pp. 57-58. 99. Ibn Taymîyya Dar‘u Ta‘arud al ‘Aql wa al Naql. Vol. 8, ed. Muhammad Rashad Sa’im. (Riyadh: Jami‘at al-Imâm Muhammad ibn Sa‘ud al-Islamiyyah, 1981), p. 382-3. 107

100. Ibn Taymiyya Dar‘u Ta‘arud al ‘Aql wa al Naql. Vol. 8, ed. Muhammad Rashad Sa’im. (Riyadh: Jami‘at al-Imam Muhammad ibn Sa‘ud al-Islamiyyah, 1981), Vol. VIII, p. 383 and pp. 444-448, p. 367. cf. also al-Qurtubî, Al-Jâmi‘u al-Ahkâm al-Qur’ân, p. 25. 101. Al-Asqalânî, Fathul Barî, p. 198 102. Qur’an Translation by Muhammad Asad. 103. Muhammad al-Ansârî A. A. Qurtubî, Al Jâmi‘u al Ahkâm al-Qur’ân Vol. 12 Part 14. (Cairo: al-Maktabu al-‘Arabiyyah, 1967), p. 30; cf. Ibn Manzûr. 104. Maulana Mufti Muhammad Shafi, Maáraful Qurán, ‘Deen aur Islam ke alfaz ki Tashrih’, Volume II, page 36 105. http://www.salaam.co.uk/themeofthemonth/february02_index.php 106. Ibn Kathir, Tafsir, notes to 4:163_165, pp.50_51, Volume 3 107. A.Y. Ali to 33:7, note 3677, Alim CD; 108. M. Asad to 5:1, note 1, Alim CD 109. A.Y Ali, note 682 to 5:1; 110. AY Ali note 5283 to 57:8 111 A.Y. Ali Notes 3782_3783 to 33:72_73; 112. Ibn Kathir, Tafsir to 7:172_174, p.200_203 113. Muhammad Iqbal Kailani, Tafheem us Sunnah Series 1 (The Book of One ness of Allah), p.117, 128_129; 114. Ibn Kathir, Tafsir to 6: 159_160, pp.531,532, Volume3 115. M. Asad, Al-Alim notes: 33 to 13:15, and 22 to 22:18 116. Ibn Kathir, Tafsir, Volume 3 notes on 6:158, pp 528_531 117. Muhammad Iqball Kailani, Tafheem us Sunnah Series 1, p.47_48 118. Muhammad Asad, note 245 to 2:253, Al Alim; 119. Ibn Kathir, Tafsir to 6:161_163, p.540, Volume 3 120. M. Asad, note 64 to 3:81, Al Alim; 121. Maulana Maududi, note 69 , 70 to 3:81, p.268,269, Vol I 122. Maulana Mufti Muhammad Shafi to 3:81, Maáraf al Qurán, part II, Maáraf wa Masa’il, p.100 123. Ahsan al Bayan to 3:81, note 3, p.184, 185 124. Dr.Umar Sulaiman Al-Ashqar, The Messengers and The Messages in the light of the Qurán and Sunnah, p. 168, 170, 188-192; 125.Maulana Maududi, Tafhim al Qurán, notes 80, 81 to 5:48, p. 169_170; 126.Shaykh 'Abdul-'Azîz Ibn Bâz, President, Administration of Islamic Research and Ifta Riyadh Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, CREED: Unification of Religions, Published: 2004/4/2 by The Presidency of Islamic Research and Ifta Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Under The General Supervision of the Grand Council of Scholars Fatwa No: 19402, Dated 25 Muharram 1418H http://thetruereligion.org/modules/wfsection/article.php?articleid=114 127. A.Y Ali, note 3731 to 33:40, Alim CD 128. Maulana Mufti Muhammad Shafi, Maáraf al Qurán, Maáraf wa Masaíl to 33:40- Masla Khatm Nubuwwat, p.159-166 129.M. Asad note 51 to 33:40; note 66 to 5:48; and note 102 to 21:107, Alim CD 130. Prophethood in Islam, Chapter 3: The Finality of Prophethood, p 64,65 131. Syed Abul A'la Maududi, Foreword (12 Feb 1962), Finality of Prophethood, The Islamic Information and News Network (IINN), The Islamic Publications Limited, 13-E, Shah Alam Market, Lahore (Pakistan), MUSLIMS@ASUACAD.BITNET http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/prophet/finalprophet.html 132. M. Muhsin note [1] (A), (E) to 2:252, p.63: Sahih al Bukhari Hadith: Vol 1 No. 331; Vol 4 Number 661 (Alim CD). 133. Maulana Mufti Muhammad Shafi, Maáraf al Qurán, Maáraf wa Masaíl to 33:40- Masla Khatm Nubuwwat, p.167 134. Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah bin Baz, Explanation of Important Lessons (For Every Muslim), Lesson 2, The Pillars of Islam, p. 94 and Lesson 3, Pillars of Faith, p.141 135. From Sahih Muslim, Chapter 1, Number 1, Islamic Articles of Faith and Pillars http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/pillars/ 136.Maulana Muhammad Ali, The Religion of Islam, page 131: Iman or Faith; Chapter III Angels. 108

CHAPTER IV: 109

PROPHETS, BOOKS AND RELIGIONS IN QUR’AN 4.1 Characteristics of Prophets 4.2 Various Degrees of Prophethood 4.2.1 Table of Resolute Prophets and their languages 4.3 The Resolute Prophets (Ulu’l –Azm) 4.4 Difference between the Teachings of Earlier Prophets and the Teachings of Muhammad SAW 4.5 Every Prophet will bear Witness against his Nation on the Day of Resurrection 4.6 The Difference between Prophethood and Leadership 4.6.1 God established True Leaders (1) The Nation of the Ishmaelites/Arabs (2) The Nation of the Israelites/Semites 4.7 Table of Geneology from Adam to Muhammad SAW, containing Prophets, Books, Religions, and Kings 4.6.2 Lessons Allah established through Prophets to guide it’s evil Leaders (A) Evil leaders among the Brethren of Noah (B) Evil leaders among the Brethren of Hud (c) Evil leaders among the Brethren of Salih (D) Evil leaders among the Brethren of Shuaib (E) Abraham challenged Nimrod and Pharoah of his times (F) Allah established Yusuf (Joseph) as the Leader in Egypt (G) Musa and Haroon challenged the Pharoah of their times (H) Allah inspired a train of Prophets among Israelis to appoint Kings for governing laws (1) Ashmoil/ Samuel was ordered by Allah to appoint King (2) Dawud (David) was chosen a Prophet and appointed King to the Children of Israel (3) Sulaiman (Solomon) like his father, was also a Prophet and a King (4) Other Prophets of Israel were Ilyas (Elias) and Alyasa (Elisha) (5) Isa (Jesus) was from the Family of Imran 4.8 All Prophets demanded their obedience on God’s behalf 4.9 The Codes of Conduct that existed before the Qur’an was revealed 4.9.1 The People of the Book and Muslims (A) Reference to the Torah Laws of Jews in Qur’an (Case 1) (B) Reference to the Torah Laws of Jews in Qur’an (Case 2) © Prophecies of the coming of Muhammad SAW in Injeel (Gospels) of Christians (D) Prophecies of the coming of Muhammad SAW in Torah (Pentateauch) of Jews 4.9.2 Islam commands to obey Leaders who govern by God’s Laws 4.9.3 The Purpose of Qur’an as compared to other Scriptures 4.9.4 Order to Judge other Scriptures through Qur’an 4.9.5 Understanding the word ‘Kitab’ (i) The Mother of all Books and the authority to Abrogate (ii) The Book of Decrees and Qadar (iii) What category of Inspiration, Qur’an falls into? (a) External Inspiration (Wahy Zahir) • Wahyu Qur’an/ Wahy Matlu (b) Internal Inspiration (Wahy Batin/ Wahy Khafiyy) • Wahy Hadith/ Wahy Ghair Matlu  (i) Ishratul Malak  (ii) Ilham or Wahyu Qalb (iv)The Difference between Qur’an and the existing Scriptures of God (v) How the Final Testament of God (Qur’an) is Guarded against incongruence? (vi) Named Books of Allah in Qur’an and Hadith 4.10 Sects/Religions mentioned in Qur’an 4.11 Qur’an on Believers and the “Saved Sect” 110

PROPHETS, BOOKS AND RELIGIONS IN QUR’AN (4.1) CHARACTERISTICS OF PROPHETS: Prophethood is Allah's blessing and favor that He may bestow on whom He wills. However, from surveying the various messengers throughout history, these features of a prophet may be recognized: 1. He is the best in his community morally and intellectually. This is necessary because a prophet's life serves as a role model for his followers. His personality should attract people to accept his message rather than drive them away by his imperfect character. After receiving the message, he is infallible. That is, he would not commit any sin. He might make some minor mistakes, which are usually corrected by revelation. 2. He is supported by miracles to prove that he is not an imposter. Those miracles are granted by the power and permission of God and are usually in the field in which his people excel and are recognized as superiors. We might illustrate this by quoting the major miracles of the three prophets of the major world religions, Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Moses' contemporaries were excellent in magic, so his major miracle was to defeat the best magicians of Egypt of his days. Jesus' contemporaries were recognized as skilled physicians, therefore, his miracles were to raise the dead and cure incurable diseases. The Arabs, the contemporaries of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), were known for their eloquence and magnificent poetry. So Prophet Muhammad's major miracle was the Qur'an, the equivalent of which the whole legion of Arab poets and orators could not produce, despite the repeated challenge from the Qur'an itself. Again, Muhammad's miracle has something special about it. All previous miracles were limited by time and place; that is, they were shown to specific people at a specific time. Not so with the miracle of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), the Qur'an. It is a universal and everlasting miracle. Previous generations witnessed it and future generations will witness its miraculous nature in terms of its style, content and spiritual uplifting. These can still be tested and will thereby prove the divine origin of the Qur'an. It is a universal and everlasting miracle. Previous generations witnessed it and future generations will witness its miraculous nature linguistically and also in terms of its style, content and ability to spiritually uplift those who read and adhere to it. 3. Every prophet states clearly that what he receives is not of his own, but from God for the well-being of mankind. He also confirms what was revealed before him and what may be revealed after him. A prophet does this to show that he is simply conveying the message that is entrusted to him by the One True God of all people in all ages. So the message is one in essence and for the same purpose. Therefore, it should not deviate from what was revealed before him or what might come after him. 4. Prophets convey God's instructions and guidance to mankind. We have no way of knowing why we were created. What will happen to us after death? Is there any life after 111

death? Are we accountable for our actions? These and so many other questions about God, angels, paradise, hell, and more, cannot be answered without direct revelation from the Creator and Knower of the unseen. Those answers must be authentic and must be brought by individuals whom we trust and respect. That is why messengers are the elite of their societies in terms of moral conduct and intellectual ability. 5. The prophets are also miraculously supported by God and instructed by Him to affirm the continuity of the message. The content of the prophets' message to mankind can be summarized as follows: a) Clear concept of God: His attributes, His creation, what should and should not be ascribed to Him. b) Clear idea about the unseen world, the angels, jinn (spirits), Paradise and Hell. c) Why God has created us, what He wants from us and what rewards and punishments are for obedience and disobedience. d) How to run our societies according to His will. That is, clear instructions and laws that, when applied correctly and honestly, will result in a smoothly functioning, harmonious society. It is clear from the above discussion that there is no substitute for prophets. Even today with the advancement of science, the only authentic source of information about the supernatural world is revelation. Guidance can be obtained neither from science nor from mystic experience. The first is too materialistic and limited; the second is too subjective and frequently misleading. It is truly thanks to them that today we know the Word of God, the existence of the angels, paradise and hell...May the blessing of God be upon them all. The essence of Allah’s Prophets is human, but, they are the purest of human beings. A Muslim does not ascribe any divinity to the Prophets orMessengers, and should consider all of them with the same amount of respect and veneration. We should be careful not to regard Jesus (pbuh) as belonging to Christianity, Moses (pbuh) to Judaism, and Muhammad (pbuh) to Islam, rather all the monotheist religions, and hence prophets, lead back to the One true God. Allah choses Messengers from among the angels [to convey message to His Prophets], and from among men; Surely Allah is Hearing, Seeing.” [22:75] 137 112

(4.2) VARIOUS DEGREES OF PROPHETHOOD: Prophethood is, according to the Islamic view, a state bestowed upon men whom God has chosen because of certain perfections in them by virtue of which they become the instrument though whom God reveals His message to the world. Their inspiration is directly from Heaven. A prophet owes nothing to anyone. He is not a scholar who discerns through books certain truths, nor one who learns from other human beings and in turn transmits this learning. His knowledge marks a direct intervention which is not, from the Islamic point of view, an incarnation but a theophany [tajalli]. This definition of prophethood holds true for every prophet, not just in the case of the founder of Islam. Although all prophecy implies a meeting of the Divine and human planes, there are degrees of prophecy dependent upon the type of message revealed and the function of the messenger in propagating that message. There is first of all the Nabi, a man who brings news of God's message, a man whom God has chosen to speak to. But the message that the nabi receives is not necessarily universal. Of the prophets in this sense [anbiya], there are, according to tradition, one-hundred and twenty-four thousand whom God has sent to every nation and people. The universality of prophecy so clearly enunciated in the Qur'an means the universality of tradition, of religion. It means that all orthodox religions come from heaven and are not man- made. It also implies by its comprehensive formulation the presence of Divine revelation not only in the Abrahamic tradition but among all nations. Among the anbiya there are those who belong to another category of prophets, or a new level of prophecy 138, who either come to abrogate the law/s of the previous Prophet/s, or to concentrate more on wiping off ‘shirk’ (association of any deity with Almighty God) or major sins from their society. Those who do not obey their Word are devastated and destroyed. Such a Prophet is called a Rasul. For We assuredly sent amongst every People an apostle (with the Command) "Serve Allah and eschew Evil": of the people were some whom Allah guided and some on whom Error became inevitably (established). So travel through the earth and see what was the end of those who denied (the Truth). [16:36] We shall see in the later chapters that how almost every community / nation reveals traces of a Major Catastrophes that have destroyed and harmed people living in them claiming human lives and causing considerable damage to land and property. Some prophets or messengers are better than others. Messengers who are raised above others are called Ulool Adham. They are Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad (Peace be upon them all): These five are the greatest among God's messengers. They are called (Oolul Azm) 'the resolute' prophets. 139 113

…These are some of the Prophets on whom Allah bestowed His favors from among the descendants of Adam and of those whom We carried in the Ark with Nuh, and of the descendants of Ibrahim and Israel, and of those whom We guided and chose. Whenever the Revelations of the Compassionate (Allah) were recited to them, they fell to prostrate and weep. [19:58] It is usually through these that we classify the major monotheistic Religions of the world: (4.2.1) TABLE OF RESOLUTE PROPHETS AND THEIR LANGUAGES : MESSENGER NUH/ NOAH IBRAHIM MUSA/ ISA/ JESUS MUHAMMAD /ABRAHAM MOSES (SAW) POPULAR SUMERIAN AKKADIAN HEBREW ARAMAIC ARABIC LANGUAGE (most probably) RELIGIONS SABIANS have HANIFS JEWS CHRISTIANS MUSLIMS IDENTIFIED got definite links who followed AS to the Sumerians monotheism and Akkadians) among the Arabs NAMES OF (1). SUHUF to (1)“TAURAH” REVEALED ADAM; to MUSA BOOKS (2). SUHUF to ‘SUHUF’ to “INJIL” “QUR’AN” FROM SHEES; ABRAHAM (2) “ZABUR” to ISLAMIC (3) SUHUF to DAWUD STUDIES IDRIS Sabians was a HANIFS were (1)Pentateauch Gospels of Qur’an, as past nation, used Arab reformers, or the Old Christian revealed to to live in Musal, neither Jews nor Testament of Historians known Muhammad SAW Iraq who were Christians, during the Bible; as the ‘Books of is FULLY INTACT monotheists, and Prophet SAW’s the New in its original read AZ ZABUR times, who (2) Psalms in Testament’ in the form. Parchments OF THE followed the creed the Old Bible, and other of original Qur’an SABIANS; A of Ibrahim AS. Testament of Gospels found are still intact in PRESENTLY Judeo Christian Jews and the Bible, elsewhere, Public Libraries. IDENTIFIED Baptizing sect of Christians used contain some contain some AS Gnostics in Hanif as a parts of parts of southern Iraq, derogatory term. revelations revelation to Isa exist by the name revealed, but (AS), but are of Mandeans; We The Hindu are NOT NOT INTACT in have got Sumerian Scriptures contain INTACT in their original records from the references to their original form. There are EPIC OF Ibrahim and his form. Original no parchments of GILGAMESH on son Ishmael, and Taurah lost. original Aramaic the Great Flood the Kaaba of the found. that took place iin Muslims, may be Noah’s times. The containing parts Hindu Vedas may of revelation given be containing to Ibrahim, but parts of “Suhufs” are definitely, revealed to NOT INTACT in prophets before their original Noah, or may be form. Akkadian is Sam Veda 114

reveals some kind of link to Nuh’s now extinct. son Sam, but these are NOT INTACT in their original form. (4.3) THE RESOLUTE PROPHETS (ULU AL-AZM): Among the thousands of prophets and messengers sent by God, the Qur'an refers to 25, five of whom are known as ulu-al-Azm, or messengers with power or resolve. The first of the prophets of power or resolve (ulu al-'azm) was Nuh (pbuh), referred to as najiyullah, the confidant of Allah, the father of humanity after the Deluge. The second prophet of resolve is Ibrahim (pbuh), khalilullah, the intimate friend of Allah (Qur'an An-Nisaa 4:125). With his son Isma'il (pbuh) he built the Ka'bah, the first house for the worship of God. The third one is Musa (pbuh), called kaleemullah, the one to whom God speaks (Qur'an An-Nisaa 4:164), the recipient of the Torah. He saved the people of Israel from Ramses II and brought the tablets with the Ten Commands. Then Isa (pbuh) the Word of God and His spirit (ruhullah), the recipient of the Enjeel, who was born from the Virgin Maryam. And finally Muhammad (pbuh) referred as habibullah, the most beloved of Allah, the last messenger of God to mankind, who blessed us with the Qur'an. Musa and Muhammad (pbut) occupy a special place in prophetic history because they were prophets and statesmen. They did not simply transmit the message; they implemented it in the life of a socio-political order. Allah sent these five prophets with divine law for their nations. They were called such because their resolve was very strong. Their trials were immense and their struggles arduous yet their constancy and remembrance of the covenant remained firm. 140 Allah states that He spoke to Musa directly and informed him, that He has chosen him above the people of his time, but we should mention that Muhammad SAW is the chief of all the Children of Adam, the earlier and the later ones among them. This is why Allah has chosen him to be the Final and the Last Prophet and Messenger, whose Law shall remain dominant and valid until the commencement of the Lat Hour. Muhammad’s followers are more numerous than the followers of all Prophets and Messengers. After Muhammad SAW, the next in rank of honor and virtue is Ibrahim, upon him be peace, then Musa, son of Imran, who spoke to the Most Beneficent directly. 141 Glory to (Allah) Who did take His Servant for Journey by night from the Sacred Mosque to the Farthest Mosque whose precincts We did Bless in order that We might show him some of Our Signs: for He is the one Who heareth and seeth (all things). [17:1] The Prophet SAW was taken on the Night Journey, when he was awake, not in a dream (as many interpret it to be), and he went from Makkah to Bait Al Maqdis riding on Al-Buraq. Then the Mi’raj was brought to him, which is a ladder with steps, which one climbs up. So he went up on it to the first heaven, then he went up to the rest of the seven heavens. In each heaven, he was welcomed by the most pious of its inhabitants, and he greeted the Prophets, who were in the various heavens, according to their positions and status. He passed by Musa, the one who spoke with Allah in the sixth heaven, and Ibrahim, the close friend Khalil of Allah in the seventh heaven. Then he surpassed them and all the Prophets in status, and reached the level 115

where he could hear the creaking of the pens, i.e., the pens of destiny, which write down what is decreed to happen. He saw Sirat al Muntaha, covered by the Command of Allah, and its greatness, its butterflies of gold and various colours, surrounded by the angels. There he saw Jibril in his real form, with six hundred wings. He saw green cushions blocking the horizon. He saw al Bayt al Ma’mur, and Ibrahim al Khalil, the builder of the earthly Ka’bah, leaning back against it, the heavenly Ka’bah. He saw Paradise and Hell, and Allah enjoined upon him fifty prayers, then reduced it to five, as an act of Mercy and kindness towards His servants. In this is a strong indication of the greatness and virtue of the prayers. Then he came back down to Bayt Al Maqdis, and the Prophets came down with him, and he led them in prayer there, when the time for prayer came. It may have been the dawn prayer of that day. Some people claim that he led them in prayer in heaven, but the reports seem to say that it was Baitul Muqaddis [It is the third holiest sight of Muslims in Palestine, after Makkah and Madinah]. Then he came out of Bayt Al Maqdis, and rode on Al Buraq, back to Makkah in the darkness of the night. (His) sight never swerved nor did it go wrong! For truly did he see of the Signs of his Lord the Greatest! [53:17_18] He was carried on Al-Buraq, a shining white animal, a means of transportation. 142 116

(4.4) DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TEACHINGS OF EARLIER PROPHETS AND THE TEACHINGS OF MUHAMMAD SAW: The belief in all the prophets of God is enjoined upon the Muslims in the Qur'an: “Say (O Muslims): We believe in Allah and that which is revealed to us and that which was revealed to Abraham and Ishmael, and Isaac and Jacob, and their children, and that which Moses and Jesus received and that the prophets received from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them and unto Him we have surrendered. (Qur’an: 2:136) This is an outstanding aspect of the Islamic belief that Muslims believe in and respect all the messengers of God with no exceptions. All the prophets came from the same One God, for the same purpose: to lead mankind to God. Hence, belief in them all is essential and logical; accepting some and rejecting others has to be based on misconceptions of the prophet's role or on a racial bias. The Muslims are the only people in the world who consider the belief in all the prophets an article of faith. Thus the Jews reject Jesus and Muhammad (peace be upon them), and the Christians reject Muhammad (PBUH). The Muslims accept them all as messengers of God who brought guidance to mankind. However, the revelations which those prophets before Muhammad (PBUH) brought from God have been tampered with in one way or another. 143 “All the Prophets of God have been deputed by Him to teach the same straight path of Islam'. In this sense there is no difference between Muhammad [SAW] and other Prophets (blessings of Allah and peace be upon them all), and we have been ordered to believe in all of them alike. But in spite of this equality, there are the following three differences between them: 1. The Prophets of the past came to certain people for certain periods of time, while Muhammad (blessings of Allah and peace be upon him) has been sent for the whole world and for all time to come. 2. The teachings of those Prophets have either disappeared altogether from the world, or whatever of them remains is intermingled with many erroneous and fictitious statements. For this reason, even if anyone wishes to follow their teachings, he cannot do so. In contrast to this, the teachings of Muhammad (blessings of Allah and peace be upon him), his biography, his discourses, his way of living, his morals, habits and virtues, in short, all the details of his life and work, are preserved. Muhammad (blessings of Allah and peace be upon him), therefore, is the only one of the whole line of Prophets who is a living personality, and in whose footsteps it is-possible to follow correctly and confidently. 117

3. The guidance imparted through the Prophets of the past was not complete. Every Prophet was followed by another who effected alterations and additions in the teachings and injunctions of his predecessors and, in this way, the chain of reform and progress continued. That is why the teachings of the earlier Prophets, after the lapse of time, were lost in oblivion. Obviously there was no need to preserve earlier teachings when amended and improved guidance had taken their place. At last the most perfect code of guidance was imparted to mankind through Muhammad (blessings of Allah and peace be upon him) and all previous codes were automatically abrogated, for it is futile and imprudent to follow an incomplete code when the complete code exists. He who follows Muhammad (blessings of Allah and peace be upon him) follows all the Prophets, for whatever was good and eternally workable in their teachings has been embodied in his teachings. Whoever, therefore, rejects and refuses to follow Muhammad's (blessings of Allah and peace be upon him) teachings, and chooses to follow some other Prophet, only deprives himself of that vast amount of useful and valuable instruction and guidance which is embodied in Muhammad's (blessings of Allah and peace be upon him) teachings, which never existed in the books of the earlier Prophets and which was revealed only through the Last of the Prophets. This is why it is incumbent on each and every human being to have faith in Muhammad (blessings of Allah and peace be upon him) and follow him alone. To become a true Muslim (a follower of the Prophet's way of life) it is necessary to have complete faith in Muhammad (blessings of Allah and peace be upon him) and to affirm that: (a) He is a true Prophet of God; (b) His teachings are absolutely perfect, free from any defect or error; and (c) He is the Last Prophet of God. After him no Prophet will appear among any people till the Day of Judgement, nor is any such personage going to appear in whom it would be essential for a Muslim to believe. 4. Every religion of the world has been named either after its founder or after the community or nation in which it was born. For instance, Christianity takes its name from its prophet Jesus Christ; Buddhism from its founder Gautama Buddha; Zoroastrianism from its founder Zoroaster; and Judaism the religion of the Jews from the name of the tribe Judah (of the country of Judea) where it originated. The same is true of all other religions except Islam, which enjoys the unique distinction of having no such association with any particular person or people or country. Nor is it the product of any human mind. It is a universal religion and its objective is to create and cultivate in man the quality and attitude of Islam. Islam, in fact, is an attributive title. Anyone who possesses this attribute, whatever race, community, country or group he belongs to, is a Muslim. 144 118

(4.5) EVERY PROPHET WILL BEAR WITNESS AGAINST HIS NATION ON THE DAY OF RESURRECTION: One day We shall raise from all peoples a witness against them from amongst themselves: and We shall bring thee as a witness against these (thy people): and We have sent down to thee the Book explaining all things a guide a Mercy and glad tidings to Muslims.[16:89] It is an allusion to the Day of Judgement, when the Prophets, whom God has called forth within every community- or in the wider sense of the term Ummah, within every civilization or cultural period-will symbolically bear witness to the fact that they have delivered God’s message to their people, and explained to them the meaning of right and wrong, thus depriving them of any subsequent excuse. 145 Not only will there be witnesses from Prophets, but the Witnesses, will be men from amongst the Peoples themselves, men of their own kith and kin, who understood them and explained Allah’s Message in their own language. The Prophet Muhammad Saw will be the witness against all those who rejected his Message he brought. How then if We brought from each people a witness and We brought thee as a witness against these people! On that day those who reject faith and disobey the Apostle will wish that the earth were made one with them: but never will they hide a single fact from Allah! [4:41_42] Each Prophet and Leader is a witness for his people and his contemporaries, for those who accept Allah and against those who reject him. 146 119

(4.6) THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PROPHETHOOD AND LEADERSHIP: The learned Shaykh Abu al Hasan al Nadwi says in his book ‘The Islamic Concept of Prophethood’: The first and the foremost difference between the prophets and other leaders is that the knowledge, mission, and message of the prophets are neither the formulations of their incisive intelligence, intuition nor wisdom….Their preaching is always divine revelation, the messages communicated from on high for which they are specially selected. Therefore as the history of religions and reformations tells us, reformers thinkers and leaders cannot be compared to the messengers of God. 147 In Islam the leader of the community plays a pivotal role in either uplifting the society to unquestionable geniuses or trampling it down to ground zero into corruption and evil. Allah says: One day We shall call together all human beings with their (respective) Imams: those who are given their record in their right hand will read it (with pleasure) and they will not be dealt with unjustly in the least. But those who were blind in this world will be blind in the Hereafter and most astray from the Path. [17:71, 72] That means on the Last Day Allah will summon all people to account, with their leaders that they followed in this world. So we have to be very careful in chosing our ideal, because technically, ‘we are of those who we follow’. Here we also get a very big clue as to why the nations influenced by the Prophets of God are so adamant upon ruling its people. Turn back the pages of history, and you’ll find people ruling all over the world. Since the world came into being, people were taught to rule people by the law of God. (We discussed about Adam and his Khilafah before). But further on, the rulers who succeed gradually flow into the schism of materialism, corruption and idolatry, going away from true faith. 120

(4.6.1) God established True Leaders: And (remember) when his Lord tried Abraham with (His) commands and he fulfilled them, He said: Lo! I have appointed thee a leader for mankind. (Abraham) said: And of my offspring (will there be leaders)? He said: My covenant includeth not wrongdoers. [2:124] This specifies that God’s promise of conferment of leadership applied, only to those of Abraham’s offspring who were righteous, and that the wrong doers were naturally excluded. This also makes it clear that, just as the promise did not apply to the misguided Israelites, it did not apply to the polytheistic Ishmaelites. 148 Three great Religions (Judaism, Christianity and Islam) emerged from the two sons of Ibrahim: (1) The Nation of the Ishmaelites/Arabs: sprung from Ishmael, the elder son of Abraham and Hagar (Hajra), from where descended Muhammad SAW. The pagan Arabs/Quraish (or Mushrikeen-e-Makkah) were originally the Adnan Arabs. The Adnan tribes of the Arabian Peninsula were nomadic pastoralists originally from Palestine. These northern Arabs were the Arabized descendants of the Egypto-Jewish Ishmael and the nomad and other Arab and non Arab tribes with whom their ancestors intermarried. Lighter complexioned than the Kahtan branch, they were regarded as mixed Arabs (Mustariba). Adnan (fl.c.580 BC), who gave his name to the Adnan race, was a direct descendant of Kedar (-the son of Ishmael). The Kahtan Arabs/the Kahtan race was the elder line of the Arabs who, in the Arab tradition, were said to be descended not from Abraham, but from Kahtan, the biblical Joktan (Gen 10:25), himself descended from Noah. The Kahtan are regarded as the indigeneous Arabs (Arab al Ariba), or the Original Arabs (Mutariba). The Kahtan migrated from Mesopotamia to southern Arabia, and were spoken a southerners. Semites of pure stock, they were of darker complexion than the Northern Arabs. Remember We made the house [in Makkah] a place of assembly for men and a place of safety; and take ye the station of Abraham as a place of prayer; and We covenanted with Abraham and Isma`il that they should sanctify My House for those who compass it round or use it as a retreat or bow or prostrate themselves (therein in prayer). And remember Abraham said: "My Lord make this a City of Peace and feed its people with fruits such of them as believe in Allah and the Last Day." He said: "(Yea) and such as reject faith for a while will I grant them their pleasure but will soon drive them to the torment of fire an evil destination (indeed)!" [2:125_126] 121

On Hagar’s death, her son Ishmael was brought up by Jurham, A Kahtan tribe, descended from, and named after Hadoram (Jurham), son of Joktan (Gen 10:27), and settled in and around Mecca. Ishmael married Rilah, daughter of Mudad, a chieftain of Amr Ibn Adi, a clan also of the Jurham tribe. It is only through the tenuous links of Ishmael and Nizar with the southern Jurham, that the northern Adnan tribes- including the Kinana (Koraysh) branch, to which Muhammad SAW belonged- can claim their slight admixture of pure Arab blood; otherwise they are closer kinsmen to the Jews. Indeed the early Bedouin spoke of certain important tribes, like the Kedar and the Thakif, as Jews. 149 It is the Truth from the Lord that thou mayest admonish a people to whom no warner [No Rasul] has come before thee [O Muhammad]: in order that they may receive guidance. [32:3] These Arabs were devoid of any Prophets for ages, untill Allah fulfilled the supplication of Abraham, to grant the Arabs- “the Apostle of their own” who shall rehearse them His Signs and “instruct them in Scripture (Qur’an) and Wisdom (Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad SAW)” (2:129); There are three versions regarding Arabia being named: 1. The Arabic word Arab is derived from 'I'rab' which means 'to express one's mind'. As the Arabs regarded themselves as eloquent speakers, they gave themselves the name Arab, and their country Arabia; labelling everyone else Ajam (dumb) 2. Some geographical experts say that the first inhabitant of the country known as Arabia was Yarub, the son of Qahtan, and forefather of the Arabs of Yemen, and hence the whole country was known as Arabia and it's inhabitants, Arabs, after him. 3. Geographers say that the first name of the country was Arabah, which in the course of time became known as Arabia, and it's people, Arabs. In all semetic languages, the word Arabah means desert - in Hebrew it means a field of a forest, and in Arabic it relates to the nomadic life. The use of Arabah as a name is observed in various poetry. 1. Ibn Munfidh Thauri, a pre Islamic poet said, 'We have got a camel which disgrace has not touched, and its place of shelter is at Arabah, Qarn and Abtha' 2. Abu Sufyan Kulbi, a Muslim poet, said, 'Our father (Ishmael) was the Prophet of God and the son of His friend (Abraham). He settled us at Arabah. How excellent is our place of settlement.' In the Quran, the word Arab has never been used for the country of Arabia. The Quran haS characterized the residence of the Prophet Ishmael as an 'uncultivated land'. It is therefore obvious that Allah has described the natural condition of Arabia, the same idea that is conveyed by the word Arabah. 122

The Land of Arabia is usually referred to as 'Jazirat-ul-Arab' (Island of Arabs). Scholars such as Hogarth, Muir and others have characterized Arabia as the center of the Old World. Abu-l-Fida, in his book, 'Taqwim-ul-Buldan', wrote that it takes 7 months and 11 days to cross Arabia - this gives us an indication to the time it would take to travel in that period of time, before modern transportation revolutionized travel. Arabia was well known for it's gold and silver mines. The scholar Hamdani in his book 'Sifatu Jazirat-ul-Arab' mentions the mines of Arabia; while Burton has written a book called 'The Gold Mines of Midian'. Midian was a city on the coast of the Red Sea, which was the home of Prophet Joshua, the father-in-law of Prophet Moses. The animals of Arabia include the horse, camel, deer, lions, and Herodotus, the Greek scholar, mentioned flying snakes which were also observed by Prophet Moses according to Deuteronomy VIII 15. Of the Greek and Roman geographers of Alexandria, Pluny, Strabo, Diodorus and Ptolemny have mentioned some fifty or sixty tribes of Arabia, but their names have so radically changed in Greece, Alexandria, and Rome that they defy identification. The following few tribes, however, can be identified after scrutiny: 1. The Aad-I-Aram: The oldest and most reputed tribe of Arabia that lived near Hadramaut. A great deal of this tribe had perished before the Greek invasion, with only a section of it, the followers of Prophet Hud surviving. 2. The Thamud: Those of the tribe of the Thamud who survived the Divine punishment were still living, during the Greek period, in their old residence at Midian near Hijaz. 3. The Hadramaut: In ancient time this tribe was equal in importance to the Yemenites both commercially and politically. 4. The Nabataeans: Two or three centuries before Jesus, the country extended from Nejd to the coast of the Red Sea, Aqabah and Syrian desert, was in the hands of the descendants of Nibt, a son of Ishmael. 5. The Kedarids: The family of Kedar, a son of Ishmael (from whom the Prophet descended) had been rulers of Hijaz from 1000 BC. Other tribes include the Minai, the Saba, the Amnonites, and the Gerrhaei. 150 (2) The Nation of the Israelites/Semites: comes from Isaac, the younger son, to whose descendants came the whole train of prophets of the Children of Israel (Jacob)-Joseph and his eleven brothers (called Al Asbat), later Moses, later Dawud (David), Sulaiman (Solomon), Zakariah, Yahya, and in the end Isa (Jesus). “And We ordained among his offspring prophethood and the Book” (29:27). Inspite of God’s continuous Favours upon them, Allah says, most of them were ungrateful, trying to flay God’s laws-changing their Scriptures to suit their needs, and slaying Prophets of Allah, so that they could evade God’s Order. 123

But We delivered him (Abraham) and (his nephew) Lut (and directed them) to the land which We have blessed for the nations. And We bestowed on him Isaac and as an additional gift (a grandson) Jacob and We made righteous men of every one (of them). And We made them leaders guiding (men) by Our Command and We sent them inspiration to do good deeds to establish regular prayers and to practice regular charity; and they constantly served Us (and Us only). [21:70_73; 32:24] Palestine became the homeland of a long line of Prophets. .151 Now there is a great deal of misunderstanding in the term ‘Semites’, because originally, Semites descended from the Arabs. Or we can also say that the Arabs of Ishmaeli descent were actually Semites. It depends on how one wants to perceive our ancestors. In present context, Arabs are those who descended from Ishmael, the elder son of Abraham, whereas, the Israelites descended from the son of Isaac, called Ya’qub or Jacob. Jacob got the name Israel at Bethel [according to the Bible]: Gen 32:28, 35:10, and his progeny got the tiltle of The Children of Israel. 152 Those inhabiting Arabia, Syria and Iraq are referred to as Banu Sam (descendants of Shem) according to the religious definition or Semites according to philologists. Therefore for anyone to use the term anti-semetism to refer to the Jewish people, is an incorrect statement, as anti-semetism refers to a wider group than 'the jews') The Arab historians are unanimous that the original home of the Semites was in Arabia. But the European scholars are divided giving 4 different points of view: 1. The original home of the Semites was in Africa, where the descendants of Ham could be traced. They argument is because of the close relationship between the Semitic and Hamatic languages. However just because two brothers look similar i.e. Ham and Shem, and because one lives in Africa, that doesn't necessarily mean that the other lives there as well. 2. The original home was in Armenia and Kurdistan. This is taken from a misunderstood genealogical concept from the Old Testament. However this was disproved by the Orientalist, Noldeke. 3. The original home was in the lower portion of the Euphrates. Guidi the Orientalist who said that by identifying the common words of the languages of the Semites we can trace back to it's origin. However Noldeke the Orientalist disagreed with this view says that the words cannot be traced to the Eurprates. 4. Arabia was the birthplace of Banu Sam: this view is that of the majority of the scholars and historians such as De George, Schrader, Winckler, Tiele, Meyer, Sprenger, Noldeke, Keane, Robertson Smith, Samuel Laing, Sayce, Rogers, etc. The argument is supported by the following: A. History shows that many early nations which belonged to Arabia settled in other lands. B. Of all the Semitic languages, Arabic is closest to the Semitic language. C. The physical structure of the Arabs is almost identical to that of the Semites. 124

D. The nomadic like of the Arabs is similar to the nomadic lifestyle of the Semites. The historians have stated: "According to my conviction all of the Semites can be traced to Arabia" [Dr Sprenger] "The Semitic traditions conclusively prove that Arabia was the primitive home of the Semites" [Sayce] "Religious anecdotes, philological researches, historical and geographical evidences prove conclusively that the original home of the Semitic races wasin Arabia" [Schrader] "The first home of the Semites was Central Arabia, whence different clans migrated to Syria, Arabia, Oman, Yemen, pushing off towards Kurdistan, Armenia and Africa][De George] "Our point seemingly sufficiently clear, that wherever may have been the original seat of the Aryans, that of the Semites must be placed in Arabia"[Laing] MIGRATION OF THE SEMITES: There have been 4 great upheavals in the history of Arabia.1. Around 3000 BC a large number of tribes migrated from Arabia and spread to Babylon, Assyria, Egypt and Phonecia 2. Around 1500 BC the Edomites, the Moabites, and the Midianites of Arabia left for neighbouring territories 3. The Mineans and Sabaeans migrated to foreign lands. 4. Around 7th century AD (1st century AH) the Arabs under the banner of Islam spread to foreign countries far and wide. Ibn Qutaibah writes: "From among the Semites were the Amalekites (Umam I Baidah, the destroyed races, who were composed of different tribes) who spread to different countries and among them were the kings of Egypt and Babylon" [Kitab al Madrif, p 10] Ibn Khaldun writes: "The Semites had many kingdoms in Arabia, and some of their tribes extended their sway up to Syria and Egypt" [Tarikh, Vol II, p 259] THE FIRST CHAIN OF SEMITES: The first chain refers to the original inhabitants of Arabia who migrated to Babylon, Egypt and Syria. The Arab historians refer to them as 'Umam I Baidah' (the destroyed races) as they perished after migration. The European archaeologists do not distinguish between them, but the Arabs name them separately. The Aaad, the Thamud, the Jurhamites, the Lakhmids, the Tasm, and the Jadis are the most ancient races of Arabia. The Aad who were the greatest and most powerful people dominated over the whole of Arabia, and they had kingdoms in Arabia, Babylon and Egypt. Ibn Khaldun writes: "Formerly the Aad were known as Aad-I-Aram, when they perished the Thamud were called Thamud-I-Aram. When they perished, the Nimrod were named as Nimrod- I-Aram" [Tarikh, Vol II, p 71] 125

NB, All the places where the Semitic people settled were named after Aram. So the Old Testament refers to Mesopotamia (Iraq) as 'Aram Nahrain' and to Syria as 'Aram-I-Damascus' etc Allah the Almighty says in the Quran: "Did you not see what your Lord did to the Aad-I-Aram? Remember, (O people of Aad), that God made you successors of the people of Noah" [Surah (7): v 69] 153 In this respect it is said that the Arabs received no Prophet before Muhammad SAW, “a people to whom no warner has come before thee” [Qur’an 32:3], because Ishmael was actually a Semite and perhaps Shuaib also being the son of Midain, and brother of Ismaeel. But perhaps because he came long after Ismaeel had settled in Makkah and Jurham had already joined Ismaeel long before, Shuaib is included in Ar’ibah and not Musta’ribah as Ismaeel. For a complete explanation read chapter VI, section 6.1 A and also Luqman, Ismaeel and Shauaib, following up. Here is the Table of Geneology of Prophets, Religions in vogue and the Books revealed to them. The Prophets are either numbered or in blocks, and underlined. The Kngs and rulers are also given side by side, that may or may not have ruled in the assumed timeline. (4.7) Table of Geneology from Adam to Muhammad SAW, consisting Prophets, Books, Religions, and Kings [1] ADAM Received “Suhuf” [2] SHEES/ HABIL/ABEL QABIL/CAIN SETH Received “Suhuf” HERO WORSHIP ANUSH/ENOS CAINAN MAHALEEL JARED [3] IDRIS/ *PHAROAHS ENOCH OF EGYPT Received Late Pre- “Suhuf” dynastic (3000 SIRIUS STAR BC) WORSHIP METHUSALEH LAMECH [4] NUH/NOAH Early Dynastic (SABIANS) Period (IDOL WORSHIP (1st to 3rd Dynasties) (2929-2575) 126

SAM/SHEM JAPHETH HAM (son 1 of Noah) Elam, Assur-Zoroaster (son 2 of (son 3 of Noah) (SEMITES) Noah) [Ham had four (Japheth had sons: Cush (father (Shem had five seven sons: of Abyssinians), sons: Elam, Gomer, Mizraim (father of Ashhur, Arphaxad, Magog, Madai, Egyptians), Lud and Aram) Javan, Tubal, Canaan (father of Meshech and Phoenicians) and Tiras.) Phut.] ARPHAXAD LAUDH/LUD ELAM IRAM /ARAM ASSUR (Son 3 of Shem) (Son 4 of Shem) (Son 1 of Shem) (Son 5 of Shem) (Son 2 of (Iram is called Shem) AMLIQ [Elamites] the son of Noah in QA) [Assyrians] SALAH/ SHALIKH / HASIM AUS / RASS (?) ATHIR / KATHER SHELAH ARAB BA’IDAH (son 1 of Iram) (son 2 of Iram) (son 2 of PHAROAHS OF Or the lost tribes Arfakhshand / EGYPT* SHADDAD/SA’AD AAD THAMUD Arphaxad) BECAME GODS (son 3 of Aad) HADIR HADUR [5]LUQMAN (QA adds Hadir as (Son 1 of Aad) (Son 2 of Aad) son of Thamud, not mentioned in TI) EBER / ABIR/ JAIRUN IYAH UBAID/ABIL [6] HUD(x) (was the King, son ABDULLAH [SHELAH] (son of Shalikh) of Sa’ad, who [6] HUD (mentioned in TI; (according to QA rampaged the city (This Hud is QA does not Hud was biblical of Syria built Iram mentioned in TI) mention Shelah in Eber) acc. To Ibn Asakir) between) MASEH/SAF HANZALAH UBAID/ABIL BIN SAFWAN (son 1 of Saf) (probably, son 2 of Saf) [7] SALIH KANE/PELEG KAHTAN/JOKTAN FALIKH Old Kingdom (son 1 of Eber) (son 2 of Eber) (son 3 of Eber) (4th to 8th KAHTAN ARABS Dynasties) (2575-2134) NIMROD (PYRAMID ARAB A’RIBAH (This term is used PERIOD) used Arabic for the for Mesopotamian first time rulers) REU YEREB/JERAH JURHAM /HADORAM First (Son 1 of Kahtan) (Son 2 of Kahtan) Intermediate Period (9th to 11th Dynasties) YEMEN/YESHED (2134-2140) ABD SHAMS SABA SERUG SABAEANS (Queen of Saba-Bilqis was the descendant Middle Kingdom from this line) (11th to 14th [BABILION] Dynasties) KAHLAN/KUHLAN (son 2 of Saba) (2040-1640) HIMYAR (son 1 of Saba) TAYI SALAMAN 127

TUBBA BANU TAMIM (the rulers of Yemen are called by this KHAZRAJ, GHAFIQ, name) AUS, DAUS, GHASSAN, MUSTALIQ, KHUZAAH, NASR NAHOR TERAH/TARIKH AZAR Second (brother of Terah) Intermediate Period / [8]IBRAHIM/ HYSKOS BABYLONIA: ABRAHAM PERIOD (son 1 of Terah) (DYNASTIES HARAN 15TH -17TH ) Hammurabi (HANIFS) (son 2 of Terah) Received (1640-1532 BC) (1728-1688) [9] LUT/LOT (This was the “Suhuf” period when Abraham visited Egypt) [10] IS’MAEEL/ [12] IS’HAQ ISAAC MADYAN/ MIDIAN (18th ISHMAEL (Abraham’s son 2) (Abraham’s son 3) DYNASTY): (Abraham’s son1) Amosis (1550-1525) ISHMAELITES [11] SHUAIB/ Amenophis I ARAB JETHRO (1525-1504) MUSTA’RIBAH Tuthmosis I or Arabized (Midian’s son) (1504-1492) Arabs Tuthmosis II (1492-1479) QAIDAR/KEDAR (Kedarids) [13] YA’QUB/ ESAU JACOB/ISRAEL Tuthmosis III (1479-1425) ADNAN (Isaac’s son 1) (Isaac’s son 2) [15] YUSUF/ Hatshepsut ISRAELITES THE (1473-1458) (7)JOSEPH TWELVE TRIBES Amenophis II (Jacob’s 7th son ADNAN ARABS (3).LEVI RAZEH/ RAWEL ([14]“AS-SIBT”) (1427-1401) from 2nd wife, (Jacob’s 3rd son MOSS (1). REUBEN, Tuthmosis IV Rachel) from 1st wife: Leah) [16] AYYUB/ (1401-1391) (2).SIMEON, JOB Amenophis III (5).ISSACHAR, [AZAR] (his mother was (1391-1353) EPHRAIM (6).ZEBULUN, daughter of Lot; Amenophis IV (9).GAD, (10).ASHER, (not in TI, only QA) his wife was (Akhenaten) (11).DAN, (1353-1333) NUN QAHATH/ KOHATH Ephraim’s (12).NAPHTHALI Smenkhkare daughter) —-------------------- (Nefertiti?) [21] YUSHA/ IMRAN/ AMRAM [17]ZUL KIFL (1335-1333) JOSHUA (son 1 of Kohath) Tutankhanum (1st Successor of IZHAR (1333-1323) (son 2 of Kohath) Moses) [18]MUSA / [20] KHIZR Ay(1323-1319) [22]CALEB MOSES KORAH (2nd Successor of (Imran’s son 1) [19] HARUN/ (19th Moses) Received AARON DYNASTY): [23]HIZQUEEL ELKANAH “Taurah “ (Imran’s son 2) Horemheb /EZEKIEL-(1) (JEWS (line of priests (1319-1307) bin Budhi [24] ASHMOIL/ (this is acc. to TI) who conducted Ramesis I (3rd Successor of 128

COW WORSHIP temple services) (1307-1306) Moses) Sethos I SAMUEL (1306-1290) ELEAZAR Ramses II (1290-1224) PHINEHAS Merneptah (Minfitah) (1224-1214) MAAD (8).BENJAMIN ASBU YASIN (Jacob’s 8th son son 1 of (son 2 of NIZAR (4).JUDAH from 2nd wife, Phinehas) Phinehas) (Jacob’s 4th son from Rachel) 1st wife: Leah) TAQI [27]ELIAS/ FARS/PEREZ KISH ELIJAH [28]ALYASA/ HASRUN/HEZRON ADI AN NASHABI ELISHA IRAM/RAM (850-796 BC) (successor of Elias) 1. TALUT/SAUL AMMINADAB DARZNA (acc. to QA (biblically comes (1025-1004 BC) NAHSHON shown early later) (the first KING of SALMON Israel, annointed JOB but Biblically ABER/BOAZ by Samuel) ADYA comes very AWEID/OBED late) JESSE MUDAR 2. [25]DAWOOD IBN SOURIQUE/ /DAVID [33]EZRA Received Zaboor (shown early acc. (1000-961 BC) (the to QA, biblically second KING of comes very late) Judah and Israel, annointed by Samuel) ILYAS or KHINDIF 3. [26]SOLOMON / SULAIMAN SABAEANS-SUN WORSHIPPERS (961-922 BC) (the third KING of Judah and Israel) : OTHER KINGS OF ISRAEL OTHER KINGS OF JUDAH 4. JEROBOAM 1 (922-901 BC) 4. REHOBOAM (An (922-915 BC) (son of Ephraimite: Solomon) son of Nebat) (he was confronted 5. ABIJAH (915-913 with the BC) (son of Prophet Rehoboam) Shemaiah) (Pharoah Shishak was Jeroboam’s protector and brother in law in Egypt) : 6. ASA(913-873 BC) 5. NADAB 2 (son of Abijah) (901-900) (son of Jeroboam 1) : (Prophet 129

Ahijah, the Shilonite, had prophesied the destruction of Jeroboam dynasty) 6. BAASHA (900-877) (son of Ahijah from the tribe of Issachar) (he provoked opposition from the Prophet Jehu 2- son of Hanani) 7. ELAH (877-876 BC) (son of Baasha) 8. ZIMRI (876 BC) (chariot commander of the army- served king only for 7 days) KINANA 7. JEHOSHAPAT SYRIA: MOAB: 9. OMRI The Moabite (873-849) (876-869) Stone (c. (son of Asa) Ben Hadad II Mesha: (845 BC) (army 840-820 BC): : (860-842 BC) commander) (When he and King (allowed Baal Remarkably, King : Ahab wanted to worship Mesha’s own Hazael (842-800 attack the city of flourish, account of the BC) : Ramoth Gilead, they brought ninth century BC consulted Prophet oppositions war of Israel and (defeated Jehoram from prophets : Zedekiah) Judah against of Israel, Ahaziah like ELIJAH) Moab, has been of Judah in the 8. JEHORAM 2 preserved in black battle of Ramoth (849-842) (son of 10. AHAB basalt stele Gilead) Jehoshapat) (warned (869-850) (son discovered east of by the Prophet [27] of Omri) (Ahab the Jordan in 1868. ASSYRIA: summoned The reassembled ILYAS/ ELIJAH BA’AL WORSHIP Prophet fragments are now Shalmaneser III Micaiah, in the Louvre warning that museum in Paris. 9. AHAZIAH 2 (842) his prophecies The 34 lines on the (son of Jehoram 2 PHOENECIA: were always of Moabite Stone, also and Athaliah) evils to come) called the Mesha Ethbaal, King of Inscription 10. ATHALIAH Sidon (His daughter commemorate the 11. AHAZIAH 1 (842-837) (wife of Jezebel married to King’s (850-849) (son Jehoram 2, daughter Ahab of Israel) accomplishments. of King Ahab of His achievements 130

Israel, she was a Baal of Ahab); are attributed to worshipper: WWB, the Moabite god p.190; p.226: she 12. JEHORAM Chemosh. wanted to eradicate 1 (849-842) the house of David) (brother of Ahaziah, and son of Ahab) : 11. JOASH 13. JEHU 1 The inscription 1(837-800) (Son of (842-815) confirms Israel’s Ahaziah 2) (army oppression of Moab commander at under the House of Ramoth Omri, Mesha’s SYRIA: Gilead) revolt against (anointed by Omri’s son (actually Ben Hadad III [28] his grandson. (defeated Jehoahaz ALYASA/ Jehoram, and a of Israel) ELISHA brutal 14. JEHOAHAZ (815-801) (son of Jehu 1) : 12. AMAZIAH 15. JOASH 2 slaughter to (800-783) (son of (801-786) (son appease Chemosh- Joash 1) of Jehoahaz) in this instance, the : (ELISHA Gadites living at predicted Ataroth, rather : Joash’s military than Mesha’s own successes.) son, as reported in 13. UZZIAH : 2 Kings. The /AZARIAH 16. JEROBOAM Moabite Stone (783-742) (son of II (786-746) bears the oldest Amaziah) (priest (great known reference to Azariah reprimanded grandson of Israel’s God him so he died of Jehu 1) Yahweh, outside leprosy) (According to (supported by the Bible. It Matthew’s geneology the Prophet records, Mesha’s of Jesus, Uzziah is the [29]JONAH/ capture of Israel’s son of YUNUS- sacred vessels and Joram/Jehoram fo the son of his presentation of Judah) Amittai; but them to Chemosh. opposed by (WWB,p.295) prophets AMOS and HOSEA for resurgence of Baal worship and social injustice) : 15. ZECHARIAH (746-745) (son of Jeroboam 2) (he was the fourth and last ruler descended 131

from Jehu as Jehu eliminated idol worship and God promised that ‘the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel.) 16. SHALLUM (745) (he seized the throne by assassinating Zechariah) (his coup marked the end of prosperity in Israel) (he too was assassinated and succeeded by his killer) 14. JOTHAM 2 17. MENAHEM (742-735) (son of (745-738) Uzziah) (never rid (Son of Jad Judah of the pagan from the tribe shrines, and tolerated of Jadi) sacrifice and incense burning there) 18. PEKAKIAH (Prophet Shiya / 738-737) Isaiah son of Amos, mission spanned the reigns of four kings: Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah) 15. AHAZ (735-715) SYRIA: ASSYRIA: 19. PEKAH (son of Jotham 2, (737-732) acc. To Mathew) (one Rezin (738-732 BC) Shalmanesar V (Tigaleth of the worst examples (Shalmanu Pilaser III of an apostate king- Asared) (727-722 subdued ASSYRIA: one who ‘even burnt BC) coalition and his own son as an brought many offering’ (2 Kg.16:3) Tigaleth Pilaser III Israelites into (Tukulti-Apil- Sargon II (Sarru- (allianced with King exile; Essara) (745-727 Kin) (721-705 Pekah of Israel and Assasinated BC) BC) King Rezin of Syria to slow the Assyrian 20. HOSHEA influence) (took gold BABYLONIA Sennacherib (732-724) from the temple and (CHALDEA): (Sin-Akhe-Eriba) (FALL OF palaces of Jerusalem (704-681 BC) SAMARIA: IN to pay tribute to 721 BC, Merodach-Baladan Assyrian-Tigaleth brought by (Marduk Apla Pilaser III) (Prophet the Assyrian Iddina) (around Isaiah (742 BC) and Kings- 730-710 BC) Mikah (742-687 BC) Shalmaneser appeared before Ahaz and Sargon 132

to return to worship II, when of Yahweh) Hoshea stopped paying 16. HEZEKIAH (son of tribute.) (The Ahaz, acc. To sins that led Matthew) (715-687) Israel’s (he was a believer, destruction are contemporary of forsaking the King Sargon of commandment Assyria: see WWB, s of the Lord, p.149) making molten images, serving Baal, sacrificing their sons and daughters as burnt offerings and turning to divination and sorcery: 2Kings:17:18- WWB, p.159) : 17. MANASSEH ASSYRIA: (687-642) (son of Hezekiah) (he is the Esarhaddon (681-669 worst apostate king, BC) ever to occupy the throne of David) (he restored pagan worship Ashurbanipal and built shrine of Baal, (668-627 BC) practised soothsayers and augury and sorcery:WWB p.280) 18. AMON/AMOS (son of Manasseh) (642-640) : 19. JOSIAH (son of (612 BC) EGYPT: *A sixth Amos, acc to Matthew) Collapse of Assyrian cent. BC (640-609) (In 622 BC, Empire and relief of Zephaniah- the last of destruction of its Pharoah Neco Pharoah the nine Minor Prophets capital by the Medes II (610-595 BC) before the Exile to and Babylonians. Hophra; Babylon, said, God was going to ‘utterly sweep When away everything from Nebuchadnezz the face of the earth’ ar, laid siege (Zeph. 1:2) to Jerusalem, he sent a relief army inn reply to the appeal of King Zedekiah of Judah, 20. JEHOIAKIM/ JEHOAHAZ JECHONIAH but the ELIAKIM (son 2 of Josiah) Egyptians (son 3 of Josiah) (son 1 of Josiah) (When Jehoiakim’s retreated in (609-598) (condemned younger brother (Acc. to the the face of a by Prophet Jehoahaz was ousted Matthew’s Babylonian [30]Armiya/ by Pharoah Neco, geneology of after only three counterattack. Jeremiah in 605 BC- Jesus, it is “The months on the throne who prophesied Jechoniah-son of Judah, 25 year old Chaldeans destruction of Judah by 133

Babylon) (Jehaiakim Eliakim was chosen in of Josiah, [Babylonians] burnt that papyrus his place and his shall come followed by scroll. That very year an name changed to back and fight Egyptian army was Jehoiakim, who Deportation to against this defeated by Babylonian remained a vassal of Babylon. Next forces under the heir Egypt. city”,Jeremia mentioned in h warned; apparent line are the “they shall Nebucahdnezzar at Charchemish on the following: take it and Euphrates. The balance EGYPT: burn it with of power had shifted) SHEALTIEL fire” Hophra (Jer.37:8). (589-570 BC) ZERUBBABEL 21. JEHOIACHIN (son of ABIUD Following Jehoiakim) (598-597) Nebuchadnezz (as a captive taken to ELIAKIM ar’s Jerusalem) (he erected AZOR annexation of a mausoleum for ZADOK Judah, the Prophet ACHIM Pharoah- [31] EZEKIEL-2 ELIUD -allowed The Prophet was among the exiled Jews under ELEAZAR Judean Nebuchadnezzar). (A MATTHAN refugees to surviving tablet from the JACOB settle in his seventh year of JOSEPH land. Nebuchadnezzar tells of JESUS Nonetheless, the fall of Jerusalem*) Jeremiah (shown early prophesied 22. ZEDEKIAH (uncle of but comes against Jehoiachin, son of later) Josiah) (597-587) Hophra: (anointed by “Behold, I will Nebuchadnezzar:) (However, give Pharoah (FALL OF Muslims see Hophra, King JERUSALEM:587 BC, Jesus pbuh as of Egypt into brought by the hands of Nebuchadnezzar of son of Mary, his enemies” Babylon) without any (Jer. 44:30). biological In a civil war father-“no man brought on by had touched another her”. Jesus’ unsuccessful was a foreign miraculous adventure, birth, as Adam Hophra was had no father deposed and later put to no mother, death, after he Jesus had no supported an father, only a abortive mother) Babylonian invasion of Egypt. (WWB, p.156) NEBUCHADNEZZAR (587-562 BC in Judah); PERSIA: MEDES: BABYLONIA: (total reign: 605-562 BC) Laharasab (ruled 120 Darius the Mede: Evil-Merodach (Amel- (Prophet Daniel’s story years) (In the book of Marduk) (562-559 BC) takes place between the Daniel, he is, the time, when King who Labashi Marduk Nebuchadnezzar deposes (559-556 BC) 134

conquered Jerusalem in Belshazar, and 597 BC, and started orders Daniel Belshazzar (son of taking Jews into Exile, thrown into the Nabonidus) and the time when the lion’s den, for (556-539 BC) Jewish captivity ended refusing to (overthrown by Cyrus under Cyrus II of Persia worship him, II of Persia) in 538 BC and perhaps instead of the beyond) Lord) : During the reign of Cyrus II / ASIA MINOR (Cyrus permitted Cyrus himself was Bushtasib, there Baashtasib/ the exiled Jews (Lydia): half Mede, his appeared a man called Bushtasib (son of to return from [32]ZOROASTER, Laharasab) (559-530 Babylon to mother was the who founded BC) Croesus Jerusalem, thus daughter of the Zoroastrianism. (defeated by fulfilling the Median King FIRE WORSHIP prophecy of Cyrus II) Astyages. Cyrus Zoroaster was a Jeremiah true (Jer.29:10). allied himself with companion of Jeremiah, but he had angered him, After uniting all Babylon, so Jeremiah cursed him, the Persian defeating the tribes living in as a result he was what is now Medes.) inflicted with leprosy. Zoroaster left Jeremiah southern Iran, for Azerbaijan, and Cyrus moved joined Bushtasib there, against the and preached him Medes, a closely Zoroastrianism, which related group, Bushtasib subsequently who had accepted. He also forced established a people to accept it, and Kingdom, killed those who refused powerful enough to do so. After to have Bushtasib, succeeded his overthrown the son Bahman, who was Assyrians. one of the famous Persian kings. (QA, p.492) : Prophet Cambyses II (530-521 . Apocrypha, to Armed with a [33]UZAIR/EZRA BC) whom King Cyrus II commission from was a descendant of entrusted the King Artaxerxes Israel’s first high priest Darius I (521-486 BC) return of temple of Persia, Ezra Aaron. Together the vessels to was specifically Books of Ezra and Xerxes I (Ahasuerus) Jerusalem, also charged with the Nehemiah describe the (486-465 BC) called first post task of return of the exiled Jews exilic Judean overseeing the to the devastated capital Artaxerxes I (465-425 governor, who ‘laid religious conduct of Jerusalem, wherein BC) the foundations of of all Israelites the face of opposition the house of God in both, in from the Samaritans, Actually there were Jerusalem: Ezra Jerusalem and whom the Assyrians had several returns 5:16), a second laid throughout the settled north of the city, encompassing several by his nephew western province and from others who generations. The first Zerubbabel, who of the Persian were eager to keep the was led by the royal is credited with the Empire. Jews from regaining prince Sheshbazzar temple’s power- they started (who appears only reconstruction rebuilding the Temple. briefly in the Book of during the reign of Despite interference, the Ezra 1:8, and in1 Darius. reconstruction was Esdras, completed by the year 515 BC. [34] ZULQARNAIN …HISHBAN recognised as SADUQ ALEXANDER THE MUSLIM GREAT (332-323 BC) DAN 135

: HASMONEAN [35] IMRAN /JOACHIM ZAKARIAH/ (David’s JOHN HYRCANUS ZECHARIAH descendant) (wife: (wife: Elizabeth) (14th Anne/Hannah- (134-104 BC) generation of Aaron’s Solomon) descendant) (ALMOST 50 HYRCANUS II ROMANS: KINGS OF JUDEA [36] YAHYA MARYAM GENERATIONS /JOHN THE (daughter of LATER) JULIUS CAESAR ANTIPATER II BAPTIST Imran) (assassinated by (43 BC) MANDEANS Roman General Pompey in 44 BC) FIHR/ ANTIGONUS II ANTONY HEROD THE EGYPT: [37] ISA/JESUS KORAYSH (Roman control GREAT (son of Maryam) (TRIBE OF leader of Judea) (son of Antipater QUEEN Received Injeel MUHAMMAD) SAW II) (37-4 BC) CLEOPATRA (CHRISTIANS) OCTAVIANUS WORSHIP AS HEROD ANTIPAS AUGUSTUS HEROD SON OF GOD (son of Herod, who ruled Galilee and (31 BC-14 AD) (32 ACHELAUS (son Perea) BC) (adopted son of Herod by a of Julius Caesar) Samaritan wife, ruled Judea) GHALIB LUW’I KAAB MURRAH KILAB QUSAI/ KOSAY ABID MENAF HASHIM ABDUL MUTTALIB ABDULLAH YEMEN [38] ABRAHA AL ASHRAM MUHAMMADSAW (the Abyssinian King 154 Received who attacked Kaaba, Qur’an was destroyed) (Year (MUSLIMS) of the Elephant 30 IDOL FREE Aug 570/571 CE) WORSHIP OF ONE GOD ABU LAHAB, ABU JAHAL (570-633 AD) Abbreviations used: QA: QISSASUL AMBIYA; TI: TARIKHE ISLAM; WWB: WHO’S WHO IN THE BIBLE. THE NO.S IN THE TABLE INDICATE THE CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER IN WHICH THE PROPHETS CAME (4.6.2) Lessons Allah established through Prophets to guide its evil Leaders: 136

Whenever an evil ruler comes on the seat of leadership, the people of God are advised to remind them to return to Truth, and rule in accordance with God’s Laws: (A) Evil leaders among the brethren of Noah: The leaders of his (Noah’s) people said: "Ah! we see thee evidently wandering (in mind)."[7:60] (B) Evil leaders among the brethren of Hud: The leaders of the unbelievers among his (Hud’s) people said: "Ah! we see thou art an imbecile!" and "we think thou art a liar!" [7:66] (C) Evil leaders among the brethren of Saleh: The leaders of the arrogant party among his (Saleh) people said to those who were reckoned powerless those among them who believe: "know ye indeed that Saleh is an apostle from his Lord?" They said: "We do indeed believe in the revelation which hath been sent through him." [7:75] (D) Evil leaders among the brethren of Shuaib: The leaders the arrogant party among his people said: "O Shu`aib! we shall certainly drive thee out of our city (thee) and those who believe with thee: or else ye (thou and they) shall have to return to our ways and religion." He said: "what! even though we do detest (them)? The leaders the unbelievers among his people said "if ye follow Shu`aib be sure then ye are ruined!" [7:88, 90] Their leaders go about saying: "Pay no heed, stand firm in the service of your gods; this slogan of One God is designed against you. [38:6] (E) Abraham challenged Nimrod and Pharoah of his times: Abraham had come in contact with two Kings- the King of Mesopotamia/Babylon, as well as the Pharoah of Egypt, mentioned in the traditions. Hast thou not turned thy vision to one who disputed with Abraham about his Lord because Allah had granted him power? Abraham said: "My Lord is He Who Giveth life and death." He said: "I give life and death." Said Abraham: "but it is Allah that causeth the sun to rise from the East do thou then cause him to rise from the West." Thus was he confounded who (in arrogance) rejected faith. Nor doth Allah give guidance to a people unjust. [Qura’n 2:258] The person who disputed with Abraham may have been Nimrod or some ruler in Babylonia, as it was the original home of Abraham (Ur of the Chaldees), and Babylon prided herself on her arts and sciences in the ancient world. 155 The event which is referred to here is not at all mentioned in the Bible. However, the whole story occurs in the Talmud, and is largely in harmony with the Qur’anic version. In the Talmudic version it is said that the father of Abraham occupied the highest office in Nimrod’s 137

government. When Abraham denounced polytheism, preaced the doctrine of the unity of God and smashed the idols of the temple, his own father launched a complaint against him before the King. This was followed by a conversation which is mentioned here. All polytheistic societies from the earliest times till today share one characteristic: they acknowledge God to be the Lord of the lords, the greatest of all deities. They are unwilling to acknowledge Him as the only God, the only object of man’s worship and service. Polythiests tend to divide godhead into two categories. One of these belong to the supernatural stratum. With this godhead the polytheists associate spirits, angels, jinn, heavenly bodies and several other beings. To them they address their prayers. They regard them as the objects of their worship. It is at their altars that offerings and sacrifices are placed. The second category of godhead belongs to the social and political stratum, and refers to the being who has the privilege of absolute sovereignity: the one who is entitled to make the rules of conduct for human life, the one who is entitled to unreserved obedience, the one who has unlimited authority to command in worldly matters. Polytheists of all ages have either wrested this godhead from God altogether, or they have had this godhead distributed, in addition to God, among many others such as royal dynasties, religious divines and the venerated personalities of society , whether they belonged to the past or to their own times. Many royal families have laid claim to godhead of the second category and, in order to consolidate their claim, they have pretended to be the offspring of gods in the former sense. In general there has been collusion between the religious and the ruling classes on this question. Nimrod’s claim to the godhead belongs to this second category. He did not deny the existence of God, and he did not deny that He was the creator of the heavens and the earth, and that He alone governed the entire universe. Nimrod did not claim for himself that he held the reins of the entire realm of causation in his hands; he claimed rather that he was the absolute sovereign of Chaldaea and its inhabitants that in his realm is word was law, that there was no authority superior to his own to which he was answerable. Any Chaldaean ho did not either acknowledge him to be his lord, or took anyone other than him to be so, was a rebel and a traitor. Abraham asserted that he acknowledged none else but the creator of the universe as his God, the only object worthy of his worship. He also denied categorically the godhead and overlordship of anyone else. This raised the question of how far the new creed could be tolerated, in so far as it was opposed to the tenets of the national religion and rejected the current ideas regarding the deities it worshipped. It also alerted the establishment in so far as Abraham’s ideas might constitute a serious threat to the national state and to the position and privilege of its ruling coterie. According to the Talmud, Abraham was interned in prison on the orders of the King. He remained in prison for ten days, after which the King decided to have him burnt alive. It was then that the famous incident of Abraham being thrown into the fire took place. 156 Traditionally the Fire incident is referred to King Nimrud. They said "Burn him and protect your gods if ye do (anything at all)!" [Qur’an 21:68] 138

Anger was burning in their hearts. They decided to throw Abraham into the biggest fire they could build. All the citizens were ordered to gather wood as a service to their gods. For several days they collected fuel. They dug a deep pit, filled it with firewood and ignited it. They brought a catapult with which to cast Abraham into the fire. Abraham was put on the catapult, his hands and feet were tied. The fire was ready with its flame reaching the sky. The people stood away from the pit because of great heat. Then the chief priest gave his order to cast Abraham into the fire. The angel Gabriel came near Abraham’s head and asked him: “O Abraham do you wish for anything?” Abraham replied: “Nothing from you.” The catapult was shot and Abraham was cast into the fire. But his descent into the blaze was as descent on steps in a cool garden. The flames were still there, but they did not burn for Allah the Almighty had issued His command: (69) … "O fire! be thou cool and (a means of)) safety for Abraham!" ! [S. 21] The fire submitted to the will of Allah, becoming cool and safe for Abraham. The throng, the chiefs, and the priests sad watching the fire from a distance. It was burning their faces and nearly suffocating them. It kept burning for such a long time that the disbelievers thougt it ould never be extinguished. When it did burn out, they were greatly amazed to find Abraham oming out of the pit untouched by the fire. Cries of astonishment were heard from the heathens. (70) Then they sought a stratagem against him: but We made them the ones that lost most! [S. 21] The miracle shamed the tyrants, but it did not cool the flame of anger in their hearts. After this event, the people who followed Abraham, kept their belief a secret for fear of harm or death at the hands of rulers. (16) And (We also saved) Abraham: Behold he said to his people "Serve Allah and fear Him: that will be best for you if ye understand! (17) "For ye do worship idols besides Allah and ye invent falsehood. The things that ye worship besides Allah have no power to give you sustenance: then seek ye sustenance from Allah serve Him and be grateful to Him: to Him will be your return. [Surah Ankabut (29)] However in spite of his love and care for his people, they felt angry and deserted him. Only one woman and one man of his people shared his belief in Allah. The woman’s name was Sarah and she became his wife. The man’s name was Lot and he became a Prophet. 157 Zaid bin Aslam says: And Allah sent an angel to the haughty king commanding him to believe in Allah, but he refused to do so. Then he called him again, and he refused, and then he called him the third time, and he refused to do so again, and said: You call your gathering of people and I call for my people. Nimrod gathered his army and people at about the sunrise, and Allah sent upon them an army of mosquitos in such a number that the sun was covered with them. They ate their flesh and 139

drank their blood and left them a structure of bones. One of these mosquitos entered the nose of the King and stayed therein. He was punished by that mosquito, to get relief from it, the King hit his head with hammer till he was dead. 158 (F) Allah established Yusuf (Joseph) as the Leader in Egypt: In the days of Yusuf, in Egypt, and all over the world, rich people had slaves to serve them. When his step brothers threw Joseph in the well, a caravan coming down from Syria, and heading for Egypt was travelling through Palestine. When they dropped a water carrier into the well for water, they found this beautiful boy instead. They decided to take him with them to Egypt, and sell him at the slave Bazaar. At that time, the ancient city of Memphis was the largest city in Egypt. It was founded in 3000 BC, when Upper Egypt and Lower Egypt were united. This was the beginning of Egypt’s dynasties. When the caravan arrived, probably in the ancient city of Memphis, Yusuf was sold for a paltry sum of 20 dirhams to a noble man. The man who bought Yusuf, was from the royal court, and bore the title of Aziz (a title which was given to people of high rank, such as the governors. His name was Fitfir, or Potiphar. Aziz had guessed that Yusuf must also be from a noble family. He therefore brought him home and instructed his wife to take good care of him, and asked her to treat him as an honoured member of the household. Thus according to Allah’s plan Yusuf was brought from a small village, to the most advanced city of the age to be trained and to carry out some purposeful task. As Yusuf grew up into a handsome and charming young man, Zulaykha, the beautiful and powerful wife of Aziz, lost her heart to him. She made all efforts to entice Yusuf, but to no avail. Yusuf prayed, ‘Help me, O my Lord, prison will be better than what I am being asked to do.’ Zulaykha got him imprisoned by falsely accusing him of making moves on her. As Yusuf was a Prophet, he knew how to interpret dreams. The two prisoners, who entered prison at the time of Yusuf, were servants in the royal court of the King, or the Pharoah ruling there. This pharaoh had a dream, which he wanted to seek the interpretation of. He called his advisors, courtiers and priests to interpret his dream of seven weak cows devouring seven fat ones, and seven green ears of corn being replaced by seven dry ones. By that time the co prisoners of Yusuf had been released from the jail, who informed the King about Yusuf’s interpretation of dreams. One of them, the cupbearer came to meet Yusuf. Yusuf explained the dream thus: in the lands of Egypt, there would be seven years of prosperity. But following these seven years of prosperity and abundance, there would come seven years of severe and dreadful famine. These seven years would use up all the stores they had laid by in the good years. ‘There is a solution to this problem’, added Yusuf. In the first seven years, whatever crops were grown, should be mostly saved, he advised. In this way, during the years of famine, they would be able to use the grain that had been stored. Yusuf also foretold that after seven years of famine, there would come a year when ther would be abundant rain and they would be blessed with great prosperity. The King on hearing Yusuf’s interpretation was very pleased and ordered that Yusuf be brought to the palace. Yusuf refused to leave prison, until his name had been cleared of false charges. 140

The King ordered an enquiry, and called Aziz and his wife Zulaykha, when she admitted ‘it was I who attempted to seduce him. He has told the truth’. Yusuf was honourably released from the prison. When Yusuf appeared before the King, the latter was very impressed by his extraordinary personality, especially his wisdom and truthfulness. “From now on you shall dwell with us, honoured and trusted”, said the King. “Give me charge of the granaries of the realm, I shall be a good and intelligent keeper”, replied Yusuf. The king happily made him the minister of granaries, and charged him, with making sure that there would be enough grain to meet all requirements during the famine that was to come. Allah says, “Thus We established Yusuf”. Prophet Yusuf wsa about 30 years old, when he was appointed by the King of Egypt as his trusted minister to look after the granaries. In the end he is reunited by his step brothers, and Benjamin, his real brother, and later to his father Jacob and mother, acknowledging his greatness. Seeing the splendour and high position of Yusuf, they all fell prostrate, as a mark of thanksgiving and awe. 159 (G) Musa and Haroon challenged the Pharoah of their times: The Pharoah of Egypt tortured people and called them to worship him, rather than the Almighty. That is he demanded people to follow his innovated laws, than to follow the ordainments of the Almighty: Truly Pharaoh elated himself in the land and broke up its people into sections depressing a small group among them: their sons he slew but he kept alive their females: for he was indeed a maker of mischief. And We wished to be gracious to those who were being depressed in the land to make them leaders (in faith) and make them heirs. [28:4, 5] He did not call people to worship him in the literal sense, but in the sense that he introduced his own standards, his own laws and asked people to follow these rather than following the Word of God. So, Allah appointed Musa and Haroon, to go to the Pharoah- so that he follows the Laws of the Almighty, and become an example to his subjects as a just ruler. We verily gave Moses the Scripture; so be not ye in doubt of his receiving it; and We appointed it a guidance for the Children of Israel (saying: ‘Take none other than Me as your Trustee’ [17:2]). And when they became steadfast and believed firmly in Our revelations, We appointed from among them leaders (a-immah) who guided by Our command. Verily thy Lord will judge between them on the Day of Judgement in the matters wherein they differ (among themselves). [32:23_25] Means, because they were patient in adhering to the Commands of Allah, and avoiding what He prohibited…there were among them leaders who guided others to the truth, by the Command of Allah, calling for goodness, enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong. 160 In the past We granted to Moses and Aaron the Criterion (for judgment) [al Furqan] and a Light [Diya] and a Message [/Reminder: Zikr] for those who would do right. [21:48] ‘Al Furqan’ here means, ‘the Scripture’ [At Tabari 18:453], ‘The Tawrah’ as ‘it permits, and it forbids’, and tells ‘how Allah differentiates between truth and falsehood’ [At Tabari 18:453]. In 141

conclusion we may say that the heavenly Books included the distinction between truth and falsehood, filling the heart with light and guidance, and repentance. 161 Allah explained to Muhammad SAW that how in the past through Moses, Allah taught the Bani Israel to believe in the Aayahs/Signs/Miracles of Allah and how being patient, taught them to lead people (through the criterion of right and wrong-Furqan). Allah says He granted al Furqan to our Prophet SAW: Blessed is He Who sent down the Criterion to His servant that it may be an admonition to all creatures. [25:1] And else where for Musa AS also Allah says: And remember We gave Moses the Scripture and the criterion (between right and wrong) there was a chance for you to be guided aright. [2:53] In another Ayah The Qur’an, the Taurah and the Injeel are spoken of as together granting Al- Furqan: He hath revealed unto thee (Muhammad) the Scripture with truth, confirming that which was (revealed) before it, even as He revealed the Torah and the Gospel aforetime, for a guidance to mankind; and hath revealed the Criterion (of right and wrong). Lo! those who disbelieve the revelations of Allah, theirs will be a heavy doom. Allah is Mighty, Able to Requite (the wrong). [3:3_4] As Allah informs His believing servants: O ye who believe! if ye fear Allah He will grant you a criterion (to judge between right and wrong) remove from you (all) evil (that may afflict) you and forgive you: for Allah is the Lord of grace unbounded. [8:29] Some commentators take the Scripture and the Criterion (furqan) to be identical. Others take them (the Book and Furqan) to be two distinct things, criterion being other Signs. 162 Whichever meaning we take, both these teach a person having patience, to how to rule by God’s judgement. The gist is that true leadership finally goes into the hands of those who persevere in patience, and make decisions on the basis of the revelations sent by Allah through His Prophets. That is why Allah said: Remember how the unbelievers plotted against thee to keep thee in bonds or slay thee or get thee out (of thy home). They plot and plan and Allah too plans but the best of planners is Allah. [8:30] And (O Muhammad) follow that which is inspired in thee, and forbear until Allah give judgment. And He is the Best of Judges. [10:109] 142

Thus God Almighty gives the step by step key to victory over the false rulers (dajjals) to every Ummah through His Prophets. If we go again in the past histories of nations, we shall find that the nations have been wrangling with each other since societies came into being, and they have been doing so either for the right purpose or for the wrong purpose. The right purpose to war is only to make the truth prevail. (H) Allah inspired a train of Prophets among Israelis to appoint Kings for governing laws: The series of Judges, Prophets and Kings in Israel continued to give good guidance, in accordance with Allah’s Law, as long as people continued in faith and constancy (persevering patience). When that condition ceased, Allah’s Grace was withdrawn, and the people broke up into wrangling Sects, and practically suffered national annihilation. 163 (1) Ashmoil (Samuel) was ordered by Allah to appoint a King: Bethink thee of the leaders of the Children of Israel after Moses, how they said unto a Prophet whom they had: Set up for us a King and we will fight in Allah's way. He said: Would ye then refrain from fighting if fighting were prescribed for you? They said: Why should we not fight in Allah's way when we have been driven from our dwellings with our children? Yet, when fighting was prescribed for them, they turned away, all save a few of them. Allah is Aware of evil-doers. [2:246] The above Ayah refers to the story of Israelis, how their Prophet Ashmoil/Samuel was asked to appoint a righteous king- Talut/ Saul, but when he was unable to make God’s Law prevail on earth, Allah instructed Samuel to appoint another man as King- Dawud / David, whose sons ruled Israel for years, but every ruler was warned by a complementary line of Prophets, until the children of Israel made it a norm to refuse to obey God’s Prophets, and whenever their laws did not subscribe to their way of life, they wanted to slay them and get rid of them. For this reason Allah made the disbelieving nations dominant upon them to punish, but they did not obey until Allah sent Isa/Jesus, who also they attempted to slay, but Allah took him up alive according to the Muslim belief, and Allah will send him again, before the Last Day to call upon all the people of the Book to believe in Allah and His last Messenger Muhammad SAW, who Allah chose from their brethren-the Arabs, who established the true religion of God to prevail on earth until last Day. And Jesus will bear witness that he himself is a Muslim, and all the Prophets who came before him were also Muslims, and they all showed their people to worship God and follow the Messenger, because without following the law, we refuse to submit in a complete manner as we actually should. Here’s how, the Holy Bible describes the whole matter: “Samuel assisted the High Priest Eli at Shiloh Shrine where the Ark of the Covenant was kept before being captured by Philistines in battle of Ebenezer Eli was descended from Aaron’s fourth son Ithamar. Eli had two sons: Hophni and Phinehas who died among the 30,000 Israelites slaughtered during a rout in which the Philistines captured the Ark. After Eli’s death, Samuel- by then a man- summoned all Israel to abandon idolatry and join him at the city of Mizpah to offer sacrifices on behalf of the nation. 143

Samuel and his unnamed wife had two sons, Joel and Abijah, who proved to be as corrupt as Eli’s sons had been, “Behold, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways; now appoint for us a King to govern us like other nations” (1 Sam. 8:5). Samuel agreed to anoint a King but, following God’s orders. The Lord had told Samuel that he would “send to you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him to be prince over my people Israel” (1 Sam. 9:16). Samuel anointed Saul as God’s chosen prince and told him of various future confirming signs. These included an experience of Saul’s prophesying with a band of Prophets, so that people wondered, “Is Saul also among the Prophets?”(1 Sam. 10:11). The positive portrait of God’s using Samuel to anoint Saul is interwoven in the Bible with testimonies about the poor Judgement of those who asked for a king. Most people cheered, “Long live the King”, but a few “worthless fellows” wondered out loud, “How can this man save us?” (1 Sam. 10:24, 27) and declined to offer tribute. After Saul vindicated his leadership by repelling an attack on Israel by the Ammonites, Samuel called all the people to meet in Gilgal and reaffirm their loyalty to the king. Samuel warned them bluntly, “if you still do wickedly, you shall be swept away, both you and your king” (1 Sam.12:25) Despite a promising start in about 1025 BC, King Saul shattered his relationship with Samuel by desperately offering a sacrifice before a battle without waiting for the Prophet to arrive. Samuel condemned Saul for disobeying a commandment of God, and as punishment announced that the Lord would take the Kingdom from him and give it to another, “a man after his own heart” (1 Sam. 13:14) In a similar story in 1 Samuel 15, Saul achieved victory over the Amelekites, then violated a religious ban by sparing the life of the enemy leader Agag, and allowing his men to bring home cattle as spoils of war. “The Lord has torn the Kingdom of Israel from you this day” (1 Sam.15:28). Saul confessed his sin and begged Samuel at least to lead him, the elders and the people of Israel in worship. Samuel recited Agag’s deeds to killing innocent children and in righteous rage cut him into pieces with his sword. From this moment on, Samuel never spoke to Saul again. Growing impatient with Samuel’s misplaced sentiments, God chided him, “How long will you grieve over Saul, seeing I have rejected him from being King over Israel?” (1 Sam 16:1), and commanded Samuel to fill his horn with oil and travel to Bethlehem south of Jerusalem, to anoint one of the sons of a farmer named Jesse, as King in Saul’s place. At the house of Jesse, Samuel examined each of Jesse’s seven oldest sons in turn. But God instructed Samuel not to judge on the basis of physical attributes, stating “Do not look on his appearance or on the light of the stature...for the Lord sees not a man sees; man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart”(1 Sam. 16:7). 144

To everyone’s astonishment God chose David, the youngest son in the family, who was brought in from tending sheep. As Samuel anointed him in the presence of his brothers, “the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David” (1 Sam 19:22). We hear of Samuel one last time in the bizarre account of Saul’s desperate search for advice on the eye of battle with the Philistines at Gilboa. The spirit responded with complaints about being disturbed and announced the impending death of Saul and his sons. (1 Sam.28:19). Samuel was, at last, allowed to rest in peace”. (p.31-32) 164 (2) Dawud (David) was chosen as a Prophet and appointed King to the Children of Israel: Following Saul, Allah chose Dawud and Sulaiman as the Kings of a huge empire including Israel and Judah. Apart from being a King, they were also Prophets of God, and descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. See what the Bible says: “David’s empire extended from the Gulf of Aqaba and the border of Egypt in the south, through all of Canaan between the Arabian desert and the Mediterranean Sea, north through Syria to the Euphrates. The story of David and Goliath (a Philistine) took place at Elah, west Bethlehem. David’s personal character came to represent the ideal ruler to later generations- God’s anointed King, the heroic deliverer, dispenser of justice, poet and the Psalmist. Priest Ahimelech and his son Abiathar; later Zadok became the chief priest of the new national sanctuary in Jerusalem, where the Ark was installed. The traditional tabernacle had been destroyed. The greatest symbol of Israel’s faith was the Ark of the Covenant containing the stone tablets of Ten Commandments, by then more than two and a half centuries old. The first attempt to transport the Ark to Jerusalem on an Ox-drawn Cart failed when one of the Oxen stumbled and an attendant Uzzah reached out to steady the Ark. Because he had transgressed the untouchable holiness of the sacred object, Uzzah ‘died there beside the Ark of God’ (2 Sam. 6:7). David waited three months before making another attempt .With careful sacrifices and joyful rituals of dancing and music, David brought the Ark to Jerusalem. The traditional tabernacle had been destroyed, but David installed the Ark in a new tent, like the Mosaic Tent of meeting, and furnished it with everything required for sacrifices, and priestly rituals.(p.78) (3) Sulaiman (Solomon) like his father was also a Prophet and a King: The Prophet Nathan informed David that God did not want so, as David’s son would do so: 2 Sam. 7:13. The name Jedidiah of Solomon was divinely revealed to Prophet Nathan. Nathan joined the priest Zadok in anointing the new King. Nathan also wrote a history, now lost, of David and his times. (p.405)” 145

Solomon changed the definition of Kingship in ancient Israel. Unlike his father he offered sacrifices, and blessed his people, thus taking over certain priestly functions. Rather than rely on Prophets for divine messages, as David had, Solomon was able to directly with the Lord. Uniquely in the ancient Middle East, he built the Temple close to the royal Palace, physically linking the state religion, and the House of David, which owned the site. The magnificent Temple in Jerusalem, begun in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign, or 480 years ‘after the people of Israel came out of the land of Egypt’ (1 Kg.6:1) was erected on the threshing floor atop a hill where David had set up an altar to the Lord. Modeled somewhat on the plan of the typical Syrian Temple, and ornamented with features revealing Assyrian and Egyptian influence, it faced east. When the temple was completed in seven years, the hallowed Ark of the Covenant was brought from the city of David. *Earlier in Solomon’s reign, after the dedication of the Temple, God had appeared a second time to him and warned that, if he or his descendants turned to other gods, ‘Israel will become a Proverb, and a byword among all peoples. And this house will become a heap of ruins. (1 Kg. 9:7-8) [p.410]” (4) Other Prophets to Israel were Ilyas (Elias) and Alyasa (Elisha): These two prophets also came to guide the kings of their times. The Bible mentions many major and minor Prophets, Qur’an mentions only a few. Some years later Prophet Elijah who was a Prophet during King Omri and King Ahab’s rules, complained to God: ‘The people of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down Thy altars, and slain thy Prophets with the sword. And I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away’ (1 Kg. 19:13-14).” It is a Muslim belief that a Prophet may be assassinated or slain, but not so a Rasul or a Messenger, as was the case with Isa Ruh Allah or Jesus. Jesus will rule by the Law given by Muhammad SAW, in the ending days, before Qayamah.That is why Prophet Yahya (John the Baptist) was slain, but not Isa (Jesus), because he was a Rasul. Allah revealed to Muhammad SAW that these Children of Israel have been ungrateful to God inspite of so many favours done to thern, their nation granted the grace of the chain of Prophets following one after another, but they do not believe, because they do not want to be binded by God’s laws: As to those, who deny the Signs of Allah and in defiance of right slay the Prophets and slay those who teach just dealing with mankind announce to them a grievous penalty. [Qur’an: 3:21] And verily We gave unto Moses the Scripture and We caused a train of messengers to follow after him, and We gave unto Jesus, son of Mary, clear proofs (of Allah's sovereignty), and We 146

supported him with the holy Spirit. Is it ever so, that, when there cometh unto you a messenger (from Allah) with that which ye yourselves desire not, ye grow arrogant, and some ye disbelieve and some ye slay? [Qur’an 2: 87] When it is said to them: "believe in what Allah hath sent down" they say "We believe in what was sent down to us"; yet they reject all besides even if it be truth confirming what is with them. Say: "Why then have ye slain the prophets of Allah in times gone by if ye did indeed believe?" [Qur’an: 2:91] And for this purpose they have made all attempts to change their Books, and write with their own hands which God did not prescribed: Then woe to those who write the Book with their own hands and then say: "This is from Allah" to traffic with it for a miserable price! Woe to them for what their hands do write and for the gain they make thereby. [Qur’an 2:79] (5) Isa (Jesus) was from the family of Imran: Allah did choose Adam and Noah the family of Abraham and the family of Imran above all people. Offspring one of the other; and Allah heareth and knoweth all things. [Qur’an 3:33_34] Here we have a beautiful Ayah that contains all major monotheistic religions of the world. Allah chose these families as leaders of the world. [For its explanation read chapter 6 part III Prophet 33 section 5] 147

(4.8) ALL PROPHETS DEMANDED THEIR OBEDIENCE ON GOD’S BEHALF: All the Prophets called its people to two things: (1) The Code of Belief (Which was the same, from first Prophet to the Last, like to worship One God and to believe in the life after death, so on), and (2) The Codes of Conduct (which varied from Prophet to Prophet). How can one be a ‘Muslim’ without the obedience of its Prophet? And so, Allah informs us about: Noah: The people of Noah rejected the apostles. Behold their brother Noah said to them: "Will ye not fear (Allah)? "I am to you an apostle worthy of all trust: "So fear Allah and obey me. "No reward do I ask of you for it: my reward is only from the Lord of the Worlds: "So fear Allah and obey me." 31 [26:105_110; 71:3]; Hud: The `Ad (people) rejected the apostles.Behold their brother Hud said to them: "Will ye not fear (Allah)? "I am to you an apostle worthy of all trust. "So fear Allah and obey me. "No reward do I ask of you for it: my reward is only from the Lord of the Worlds... "Now fear Allah and obey me. [26:123_127, 131] Salih: The Thamud (people) rejected the apostles. Behold their brother Salih said to them: "Will you fear (Allah)? "I am to you an apostle worthy of all trust. "So fear Allah and obey me. "No reward do I ask of you for it: my reward is only from the Lord of the Worlds. "But fear Allah and obey me; "And follow not the bidding of those who are extravagant. "Who make mischief in the land and mend not (their ways) [26:141_145, 150_152]; Lut: The people of Lut rejected the apostles. Behold their brother Lut said to them: "Will ye not fear (Allah)? "I am to you an apostle worthy of all trust. "So fear Allah and obey me. [26:160_163]; Shuaib: The Companions of the Wood rejected the apostles. Behold Shuaib said to them: "Will ye not fear (Allah)? "I am to you an apostle worthy of all trust. "So fear Allah and obey me. [26: 176_179] Haroon: Aaron, had already before this said to them (the worshippers of Cow): "O my people! ye are being tested in this: for verily your Lord is (Allah) Most Gracious: so follow me and obey my command." [20:90]; Musa: (Moses) said: " O Aaron! what kept thee back when thou sawest them going wrong (worshipping calf) "From following me? Didst thou then disobey my order?"...(Moses said to the calf worshippers): ‘now look at thy god of whom thou hast become a devoted worshipper: we will certainly (melt) it in a blazing fire and scatter it broadcast in the sea!" But the god of you all is the One Allah: there is no god but He: all things He comprehends in His knowledge. [20:92_93, 97_98]; 148

Isa: [Jesus said:] "(I have come to you) to attest the Law which was before me and to make lawful to you part of what was (before) forbidden to you; I have come to you with a Sign from your Lord. So fear Allah and obey me. "It is Allah who is my Lord and your Lord; then worship Him. This is a way that is straight." [3:50_51; 43:63]; Muhammad: My mission is only to deliver what I receive from Allah and make His messages known. As for those who disobey Allah and His Rasool, they shall be put in the fire of hell to live therein forever."[72:23]. .. Obey Allah and the Apostle [Muhammad] that ye may obtain mercy. [3:132; 24:56]; and (O Muhammad) lower your wing of kindness to those of the believers who follow you, but if they disobey, tell them: "I am not accountable for what you do." [26:215_216] (4.9) THE CODES OF CONDUCT THAT EXISTED BEFORE THE QUR’AN WAS REVEALED: Thus Allah says: < li- kull jacalnaa min -kum shircah wa- minhaaj(an) wa- law shaa'a 'allaah la- jacala -kum 'ummah waah.idah wa- laakin li- yabluwa -kum fe maa 'aataa -kum fa- istabiqo al- khayraat 'ilaa 'allaah marjic -kum jamec(an) fa- yunabbi' -kum bi- maa kuntum fe -hi takhtalifon > …To each among you have We prescribed a Law and an Open Way. If Allah had so willed He would have made you a single people but (His plan is) to test you in what He hath given you: so strive as in a race in all virtues. The goal of you all is to Allah; it is He that will show you the truth of the matters in which ye dispute” [5:48] Ibn Abbas has translated it as: “A Way and a Sunnah” [At Tabari 10:388] 165 This Ayah means, Allah has instituted different laws to test His servants’ obedience, to what He legislates for them. This is a general proclamation to all nations informing them of Allah’s mighty ability. If Allah Wills, He would make all mankind follow One Religion and One Law that would never be abrogated. Allah decided that every Prophet would have his own distinct law that is later abrogated partially or totally with the law of a latter Prophet. Later on all previous laws were abrogated by the Law that Allah sent with Muhammad SAW, His servant and Messenger, whom Allah sent of the people of earth, as the Final Prophet. 166 The group of these Ayahs of ‘Surah Al Maidah’ are of utmost importance for us to understand the technical points relating our Thesis. Islam could be attained, not alone by the Code of Belief (that remained the same throughout, starting from Adam AS to the Last Prophet Muhammad SAW), but is attained by the obedience or following the Codes of Conduct (that may /may not have varied from Prophet to Prophet) prescribed by the Nabi to its people, until another Nabi is sent to abrogate and bring about the change in any previously socially accepted conduct. In the following Ayahs three Ummahs are made mention of- 149

(1) The Ummat e Musa AS/ Moses- who according to Qur’an received the Torah, now found in the Old Testament of the Holy Bible; (2) The Ummat e Isa AS/ Jesus- who according to the Qur’an received the Injeel, now found in the New Testament of the Holy Bible; (3) The Ummat e Muhammad SAW- who received the Final Ordainment from the ‘Ummul Kitab’, is called Qur’an. From these Ayahs we also understand the term ‘Ummah’ (as used in 5:48 above), designates to a group of people who follow a particular ‘Kitab e Aasmani’ or the Book/ Word of the God in Heaven. (4.9.1) The People of the Book and Muslims: Those people who believe to have received the Book from God, and they hold it as the authority to dominate their daily lives, are termed as the People of the Book or ‘Ahli-Kitaab’. The People of the Book or ahl al Kitâb (Arabic: ‫ )اهل الكتاب‬is a term in Islam for peoples who have received, and are in possession of the divine scriptures. The term "People of the Book" (Am HaSefer) is also used in Judaism, where it refers specifically to the Jewish people and the Torah. In Islam, the term applies to monotheistic Abrahamic faiths older than Islam who received revelation(s) (hence "book") from God. To orthodox Muslims this includes at least all Christians, Jews (including Karaites and Samaritans), and "Sabians" (identified with Mandaeans). Many early scholars such as Imam Malik agree in also including Zoroastrians, while some have argued for extending the concept further. The various faiths of the People of the Book share several qualities: They recognize one god. They share certain religious texts. They share many of the same prophets, such as Abraham. They recognize life after death, judgment, heaven and hell, and angels They share similar beliefs regarding the Creation, specifically, in the lives of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden 167 But those scriptures are far from the revelations received by the Prophets in their times, with the exception of al Qur’an. Judaism, Christianity and Islam all claim to be "Abrahamic Faiths, and all of them are also classified as "monotheistic". However, Islam teaches that other religions have, in one way or another, distorted and nullified a pure and proper belief in Almighty God by neglecting His true teachings and mixing them with man-made ideas. 168 Muslims believe in all the past revelations to other Prophets and Messengers of Allah. By other revelations it is meant to be the original undistorted revelations, not the present Christian Bible and the Present Jews Bible, as they have been distorted. The Gospel written by Barnabas, the most intelligent and educated disciple of Jesus, seems to be the true Gospel given to Jesus (PBUH). The Christians, however, is not ready to accept the truth contained in it. 150

Every Prophet and Messenger preached the same guidance to their people, which was ISLAM. Adam (PBUH) was the first Messenger of Allah and he also preached ISLAM. The true followers of Moses were not called the Jews but the Muslims. Jews now follow Judaism, which was named after a tribe from a later generation of Bani-Israil or descendents of prophet Jacob (Yacub) (PBUH). The true followers of Jesus (Isa) (PBUH) were not known as Christians, but as Muslims as they followed the same true religion ISLAM. Allah tells through Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) that Jesus was not the son of GOD, and he was not crucified. Jesus was taken to heaven and will come back again on earth to declare the truth. Present Muslims do not believe in Trinity of the Christians. The Holy Ghost they consider is not a spirit in its literal sense, it is the spirit of truth, "The Prophet Muhammad". Jesus was not the LAST Messenger of Allah. He was sent to guide the lost sheep of Israel, the Bani-Israils, and he came to herald the Ingil (Gospel-which also means the Good News) or good news of coming of the Last and Great Messenger of Allah, Prophet Muhammad. The Jews do not believe in Jesus, nor in Muhammad. They consider both of them as Imposters and False Prophets. They are still waiting for their Promised Messiah or Rescuer. 169 (A) Reference to the Torah Laws of Jews in Qur’an: (Case 1): Now we proceed with the explanation of Ayah, which emphasizes on the obedience to the Rasuls who received laws for their people: …To each among you have We prescribed a Law and an Open Way… Allah informed Muhammad SAW that why he looses heart, when people refuse to accept him as their judge, when earlier, they had refused to be judged by their corresponding Messengers of their own time. Yet how will they appoint you [O Muhammad] a Judge, when they have the Torah with them, wherein there is Allah’s Judgement- and still they turn away from it? The fact is they are not believers. Here three judgements are issued against those who do not judge in accordance with the Law revealed by God. First is that they are kafir (unbelievers); the second, that they are zalim (wrong doers); and the third, that they are fasiq (transgressors): Surely, We revealed the Torah (to Moses), wherein there is guidance and light. Thereby did Prophets- who had submitted themselves (to Allah)-judge for the Judaized folk; and so did the Scholars (Rabbis) and the Jurists (Doctors of Law). They judged by the Book of Allah, for they had been entrusted to keep it and bear witness to it. So (O Jews!), do not fear men, but fear Me, and do not barter away My Signs for a trivial gain. Those who do not judge by (the light of) what Allah hath revealed they are indeed the unbelievers (Kafiroon); [5:43_44] 151

Here pointed reference is made to judges and juriconsults who accept false evidence and invent reports in order to issue verdicts contrary to justice and in favour of either those who bribe them or with whom their illegitimate interests lie. In these verses, God unmasks completely the dishonesty of those people. It shows, how these so called religious people who had cast the spell of their religious piety and knowledge of the Scriptures over the whole of Arabia, had set aside a categorical injunction of the Book, which they themselves recognized to be the Book of God, and which they professed to believe in. When these Ayahs were revealed, the Jews had not become full fledged subjects of the Islamic State. Their relations with that state were based on agreements, according to which, the Jews were to enjoy internal autonomy, and their disputes were to be decided by their own judges, and in accordance with their own laws. They were not legally bound to place their disputes, either before the Prophet (peace be upon him) for adjudication or before the judges appointed by him. But in cases, where it appeared against their interests, to have their disputes judged according to their own religious law, they approached the Prophet (peace be upon him), in the hope that the Prophet might have a different ruling. The particular case referred to here was that of a woman belonging to a respectable family, who was found to be involved in an unlawful sexual relationship with a man. The punishment for this in the Torah was that to be stoned to death (see Deuteronomy 22:23_4). <The Holy Bible says: If a young woman who is a virgin is betrothed to a husband, and a man finds her in the city, and lies with her, then you shall bring them both out of the gate of that city, and you shall stone them to death with stones, the young woman because she did not cry out in the city, and the man because he humbled his neighbour’s wife; so you shall put away the evil from among you (Deuteronomy 22:23_24).> But the Jews did not want to enforce this punishment. Hence they deliberated among themselves, and decided to put the case before the Prophet (peace be upon him), with the reservation that his judgement be accepted only, if it was other than stoning. The Prophet (peace be upon him) decided that the punishment should, in fact be stoning. When the Jews declined to accept the Judgement, the Prophet (peace be upon him) asked their Rabbis what punishment had been prescribed for such a case in their religion. They replied that it was to strike the culprit with lashes, to blacken the face, and to make the person concerned ride on a donkey. However, one of them called Ibn Sawriya, who, according to the Jews themselves, was the greatest living scholar of the Torah at that time, kept silent. The Prophet (peace be upon him) asked him to state an oath in the name of God. He replied, ‘Had you not put me under such a heavy oath, I would not have volunteered the correct information. The fact is that the prescribed punishment for adultery is indeed stoning. Later on, when this caused resentment among the common people, we altered the law of the Torah, and adopted the rule that adulterers and the adulteresses would be lashed, their faces would be blackened, and they would be made to ride on donkeys, seated in backward looking position’. 152

This left the Jews with nothing to say, and the adulterers and the adulteresses, were in accordance with the order of the Prophet (peace be upon him) stoned to death. (Ibn Kathir, Tafsir, vol 3, pp.574-5-Ed). This made it quite clear that there was nothing to which they subscribed sincerely. Their true religion consisted merely of worshipping their interests and desires. They were r eady to turn their backs upon the very book, which they recognized as the Book of God, merely because some of its injunctions were unpalatable to them, and in such cases they did not mind in approaching one whom they regarded as an imposter (may God be the refuge in such a blasphemy) in the hope that they might be able to obtain a judgement to their liking. The Jews had deviated from Islam (submittance to God’s Laws), and true to their chauvinistic sectarianism, were content with remaining merely ‘Jews’. (B) Reference to the Torah Laws of Jews in Qur’an (Case 2): And therein (i.e., the Torah), We ordained for them: "A Life for a life, an eye for an eye, a nose for a nose, an ear for an ear, and a tooth for a tooth and for all wounds like for like. "But if anyone remits the retaliation by way of charity it is an act of atonement for himself. Those who do not judge by (the light of) what Allah hath revealed, they are indeed the wrongdoers (Zalimoon). [5:45] 170 These Ayahs relate to the conspiracy hatched by the Banu Nazeer who forced Banu Quraizah to claim less Diyat (blood money) than them. 171 Bani An-Nadir and Bani Qurayzah were two groups among the Jews. During the time of Jahilliyah, one of them had defeated the other. As a result they made a treaty that they would pay blood money totalling 50 wasaq (approx. 3 kg) of gold for every dead person from the defeated group killed by the victors, and a 100 wasaq for every dead person, the defeated group killed from the victors. The dead of the Bani An-Nadir were being honoured more, and they received the full amount of Diyah, while Qurayzah received, half the Diyah for their dead. So they referred to the Messenger of Allah SAW, and Allah sent down these verses about them. The Messenger of Allah SAW compelled them to adhere to the true judgement in this matter and made the Diyah, the sme for both groups, and Allah knows best about that matter. [At- Tabari 10:326] Ahmad (1:363), Abu Dawud (4:16) and An Nasa’I (8:19), also recorded this hadith from Abu Is’haq. 172 <In the Holy Bible: Exodus: Chapter 21, verses 23_25 say: But if any harm follows, then you shall give life for life, Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for woumd, stripe for stripe. (Exodus 21:23_25)> Narrated Ibn Abbas: The law of Qisas (i.e. equality in punishment) was prescribed for the children of Israel, but the Diya (i.e. blood money was not ordained for them). So Allah said to this Nation (i.e. Muslims): "O you who believe! The law of Al-Qisas (i.e. equality in punishment) is prescribed for you in cases of murder: The free for the free, the slave for the slave, and the 153

female for the female. But if the relatives (or one of them) of the killed (person) forgive their brother (i.e. the killer) something of Qisas (i.e. not to kill the killer by accepting blood money in the case of intentional murder)--then the relatives (of the killed person) should demand blood- money in a reasonable manner and the killer must pay with handsome gratitude. This is alleviation and a Mercy from your Lord, (in comparison to what was prescribed for the nations before you). So after this, whoever transgresses the limits (i.e. to kill the killer after taking the blood-money) shall have a painful torment." (2.178) [Sahih al Bukahri Hadith 6.25] Who ever foregoes the right of Retaliation (Qisas), does a good deed, which will atone for many of his sins. The same is confirmed by a tradition of the Prophet (peace be upon him) in which he said: ‘Whoever receives an injury on his body, then pardons the inflictor of the injury, his sins are atoned for to the pleasure of his pardoning. (Ahmad b. Hanbal, Musnad Vol. 5, pp 316, 329-Ed) Narrated Abdullah: Allah's Apostle said, "The blood of a Muslim who confesses that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and that I am His Apostle, cannot be shed except in three cases: In Qisas for murder, a married person who commits illegal sexual intercourse and the one who reverts from Islam (apostate) and leaves the Muslims." 173 Abdullah Yusuf Ali also explains that in he Ayah 5:45: “But if anyone remits the Retaliation by way of Charity, is an act of atonement for himself”, is not a part of the Mosaic Law, but the teaching of Jesus and of Muhammad. We can notice how the teaching of Jesus is gradually introduced as leading up to the Qurán. The Retaliation is prescribed in three places in the Pentateuch viz. Exod xxi.23-25; Leviticus xxiv.18-21 and Deut. xix.21. <The Holy Bible says: Your eye shall not pity: Life shall be for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot. (Deuteronomy 19:21) You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth’. But I tell you, not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. (Matthew 5:38, 39)> The wording in the three quotations is different, but, in none of them is found the additional rider for mercy as here. Note that in Matt. V.38 Jesus quotes the Old Law “eye for an eye”, etc, and modifies it in the direction of forgiveness. But the Quránic injunction is more practical. This appeal for mercy is as between man and man in the spiritual world. 174 (C) Prophecies of the coming of Muhammad (SAW) in Injeel/ Gospels of Christians: And in their footsteps We sent Jesus the son of Mary confirming the truth of whatever there still remained of the Torah. And We gave him the Gospel: wherein is guidance and light, and which confirms the truth of whatever there still remained of the Torah, and a guidance and an admonition for the God fearing. 154

Let the followers of the Gospel Judge by what Allah hath revealed therein. And those who do not judge by (the light of) what Allah hath revealed are Transgressors (Fasiqoon). [5:46_47] The Messiah did not expound a new religion. That very religion which had been the religion of all the Prophets was also his religion, and it is towards that religion that he called people. He believed in the true teachings of the Torah which were extant in his time, and the Gospels (Injil) confirm this. (See Matthew 5:17_18). Do not think that I have come to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfil. For assuredly I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the Law till all is fulfilled. [Matthew 5:17_18] The Qur’an repeatedly stresses the fundamental fact that none of the Prophets of God, no matter in which part of the world they appeared, denied the Prophets who had preceded them. On the contrary, each Prophet confirmed the message of his predecessors, and sought to promote the mission which was the scared legacy of them all. God did not reveal any of the Books, in order to repudiate the previous ones; each confirmed and supported the preceding ones. 175 In Ayah 46, 47, Allah speaks to the Ahl-e-Injeel that they are rebellious, if they fail to judge by the codes of their Scripture. 176 Now, why Allah says so is because Allah reminds the believers of the Gospels to look into their own scripture and see what is written in it. The Gospels clearly prophecy, about the coming of Muhammad SAW after Jesus, as the following Ayah reminds: And remember Jesus the son of Mary said: "O Children of Israel! I am the apostle of Allah (sent) to you confirming the Law (which came) before me and giving glad Tidings of an Apostle to come after me whose name shall be Ahmad." [61:6] This prediction is supported by several references in the Gospel of St. John to the Parakletos [usually rendered as “Comforter”] who was to come after Jesus. This designation is almost certainly a corruption of Periklytos, [“the Much Praised”] an exact Greek translation of the Aramaic term or name “Mawhamana”. It is to be borne in mind that Aramiac was the language used in Palestine, at the time of, and for some centuries after Jesus, and was thus, undoubtedly the language in which, the original, now lost-texts of the Gospels were composed. In view of the phonetic closeness of Periklytos and Paracletos, it is easy to understand, how the translator, or more probably, a later scribe- confused these two expressions. It is significant that both the Aramaic Mawhamana, and the Greek Periklytos have the same meaning as the two names of the last Prophet, Muhammad and Ahmad, both of which are derived from the from the verb ‘hamida’ [“he praised”], and the noun ‘hamd’ [“praise”]. 177 “Ahmad” or “Muhammad”, the Praised One, is almost a translation of the Greek word Periclytos. In the present Gospel of John xiv.16, xv.26, and xvi.7, the word “Comforter” in the English version, is for the Greek word “Paracletos”, which means “Advocate”, “one called to the help of another, a kind friend”, rather than “Comforter”. 155

If you love me keep My Commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that he may abide with you forever. (John 14:15_16). Muhammad SAW is foretold in the Gospels, where the Future Comforter cnnot be the Holy Spirit as understood by Christians, as the Holy Spirit already was present, helping and guiding Jesus. But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth: who proceeds from the Father. He will testify of Me. (John 15:26) Our doctors contend that paracleots is a corrupt reading for Periclytos, and that in their original saying of Jesus, there was a Prophecy of our holy Prophet Ahmad by name. Even if we read Paraclete, it would apply to the Holy Prophet, who is “Mercy for all creatures” (xxi.107), and “most kind and merciful to the believers” (ix.128). Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for, if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you, but if I depart, I will send him to you. And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgement; Of sin, because they do not believe in Me; Of righteousness, because I go to My Father, and you see Me no more; Of judgement, because the ruler of this world is judged; However, when He, the Spirit of Truth has come, He will guide you into all truth; For He will not speak of His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak. And He will tell you things to come; He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. (John 16:7_14) The mission of Jesus was to his own people, the Jews, cf. Matt x 5_6. See also Matt xv 26. 178 These twelve, Jesus sent out, and commanded them saying: ‘Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans; But, go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. (Matt. 10:5_6) See the rise of the Arab Nation in Isaiah xlii.11, for Kedar was the son of Ismail, and the name is used for the Arab nation: in the New Testament, as it now exists. Let the wilderness and its cities, lift up their voice, the villages that Kedar inhabits. Let the inhabitants of Sela sing, let them shout from the top of the mountains. Let them give glory to the Lord, and declare His praise in the coastlands. [Isaiah 42:11] Further there were other Gospels that have perished, but of which traces still remain, which were even more specific in their reference to Muhammad, e.g. the Gospel of St. Barnabas, of which an Italian translation is extant in the State Library at Vienna. It was edited in 1907 with an English translation by Mr. Lonsdale and Laura Ragg. 179 The prediction of the advent of the Prophet Muhammad- mentioned by name, in its Arabic form of the Gospel of St Barnabas, though now regarded as apocryphal, was accepted as authentic, and was read in the churches, until the year 496 of the Christian era, when it was banned heretical by Pope Gelasius. 180 156

(D) Prophecies of the coming of Muhammad (SAW) in Torah (Pentateauch) of Jews: Remember, we did the verse on Covenant of the Prophets in chapter 3, where we explained the Ayah: Behold! Allah took the covenant of the Prophets saying: "I give you a Book and Wisdom; then comes to you an Apostle confirming what is with you; do ye believe him and render him help." Allah said: "Do ye agree and take this My Covenant as binding on you?" They said: "We agree." He said: "Then bear witness and I am with you among the witnesses." [3:81] This Ayah reminds all the People of the Book, not alone the Christians or the Jews, to look into their scriptures, and see whether you are true to your covenants or not. See Muhammad SAW is prophesied in your Scriptures, then why you are biased toward him? In the Old Testament, as it now exists, Muhammad SAW is foretold in Deut. xviii.18: I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among their brethren, and will put My Words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them, all that I command Him. (Deut. 18:18) Which was interpreted by some of their doctors as referring to Muhammad SAW and they came to Islam. The Arabs are a kindred branch of the Semitic family, and are correctly described in relation to the Jews as their “brethren; and there is no question that there was not another Prophet “like unto Moses” until Muhammad SAW came. In fact the postscript of Deuteronomy which was written many centuries after Moses says: “There arose not a Prophet since in Israel, like unto Moses whom the Lord knew face to face”. But the Jews as a body were jealous of Muhammad SAW, and played a double part. When the Muslim community, began to grow stronger they pretended to be of them, lest they should be beaten up by their own arguments. 181 The argument is: You People of the Book are bound by your own oaths, sworn solemnly in the presence of your own Prophets. Then why you turn away? Surely this Qur'an is a revelation from the Rabb of the Worlds. The trustworthy Spirit (Angel Gabriel) brought it down upon your heart so that you may become one of those who are appointed by Allah to warn the people in a plain Arabic language. This fact was foretold in the scriptures of the former people. Is it not sufficient proof for the people that the learned men of the children of Israel knew about it? Even so that if We had revealed it to a non-Arab, [26:192_196] And verily, [the essence of] this [revelation-Qur’an] is indeed found in the ancient Books of divine wisdom [as well]. Is it not evidence enough for them that so many learned men from among the Children of Israel have recognised this [as true]? [26:196_197] “And in consequence become Muslims”, for instance Abdullah Ibn Salam, Ka’ab Ibn Malik, and other learned Jews of Madina in the lifetime of the Prophet SAW, Ka’ab al Ahbar, the Yemenite and a number of his compatriots during the reign of Umar, and countless others throughout the world who embraced Islam in the course of centuries. 182 157

People true to the covenant of Allah have always been fighting for the truth to prevail. And so has the Prophet SAW has said: ‘There will always be a group of my ummah fighting upon the truth, having the upper hand, not harmed by their opponents, until the decree of Allah (the Last Hour) comes’. [Ibn Abi Hatim 1:355] This fighting is like, when you see something wrong happening in front of your eyes, stop it with your hand, but if you cannot, stop it with your tongue, and even if you cannot do this, feel it in your heart that it is wrong. “Those unto whom We have vouchsafed, the Divine Writ [Kitab] follow it [read it] as it ought to be folowed [read]- it is they who truly believe in it. [2:121] As Suddi reported from Abu Malik from Ibn Abbas, who said about this Ayah (2:121): ‘They make lawful, what it allows, and tey prohibit, what it makes unlawful, and they do not alter its wordings’. [At Tabari 2:567] Umar bin Al Khattab said, ‘They are those who when they recite an Ayah that mentions mercy, they ask Allah for it, and when they recite an Ayah that mentions torment, they seek refuge with Allah from it’. [Al Qurtubi 2:95] Allah’s statement < Those to whom We gave the Book…they are the ones who believe therein.> means, ‘Those among the People of the Book, who perfectly adhered to the Books that were revealed to the previous Prophets, will believe in what I have sent you with O Muahmmad!’ Allah said in another Ayah, If they would have observed the Laws of Taurat and the Injeel (Gospel) and other Revelations which were sent to them from their Rabb, they would have certainly enjoyed abundance from above and from beneath. Though there are some among them on the moderate course; but most of them do nothing but evil. [5:66] The Ayah means, “If you adhere to the Torah and the Gospel, in the correct manner, believe in them as they should, and believe in the news they carry about Muhammad’s prophethood, his description and the command to follow, aid, and support him, then this will direct you to adhere to truth and righteousness in this life and the Hereafter”. In another Ayah, Allah said, Those who follow the Rasool, the unlettered Prophet (Muhammad) -whom they shall find described in the Taurat (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel). Who enjoins them what is good and forbids what is evil. [7:157] Say: "Whether you believe in it or not, it is true that those who were endowed with knowledge before its revelation prostrate themselves when it is recited and say, 'Glory be to our Rabb! Our Rabb's promise has been fulfilled.' They fall down upon their faces, weeping as they listen, and this increases their reverence." [17:107_109] These Ayaat indicate that what Allah promised for Muhammad SAW will certainly occur. 158

Those to whom the scriptures were given before this (Jews and Christians), they do recognize the Truth and believe in this (Qur'an). When it is recited to them they say: "We believe in it, surely this is the Truth from our Rabb: indeed we were Muslims even before this." They are the ones who will be given their reward twice, because they have endured with fortitude, repelling evil with good and giving in charity out of what We have given them. [28:52_54] Then ask those who are given the Book and those who are illiterates (Ummiyeen): "Will you also submit yourselves to Allah?" If they become Muslims they shall be rightly guided but if they turn back, you need not worry, because your sole responsibility is to convey the Message. Allah is watching all His servants very closely. [3:20] …but those of the Sects (Jews, Christians, and all the other non Muslim nations) that reject it (the Qur’an) the Fire will be their promised meeting place. [11:17] As recorded in the Sahih, the Prophet SAW said: ‘By He in whose Hand is my soul! There is no member of this Ummah (mankind and Jinns), Jew or a Christian, who hears of me, but will enter the fire’. [Muslim 1:134] O Children of Israel! call to mind the special favor which I bestowed upon you and that I preferred you to all others (for my message). Then guard yourselves against a day when one soul shall not avail another nor shall compensation be accepted from her nor shall intercession profit her nor shall anyone be helped (from outside).[1:122_123] Allah warned them against concealing this information, which is among the favours that Allah granted them. Allah also commanded them to remember their daily life and their religious affairs, and how he blessed them. They should not envy their cousins, the Arabs for what Allah has given them the Final Messenger of Allah being an Arab. Envy should not incite them to oppose or deny the Prophet, or refrain from even following him until the Day of Judgement. 183 (4.9.2) Islam commands to obey leaders who govern by God’s Laws: Allah says:O ye who believe! Obey Allah and Obey the Apostle and those charged with authority among you. If ye differ in anything among yourselves refer it to Allah and His Apostle, if ye do believe in Allah and the Last Day: that is best and most suitable for final determination. [4:59] Al Bukhari recorded that Ibn Abbas said that the Ayah was revealed about Abdullah bin Hudhafah bin Qays bin Adi. Imam Ahmad recorded that Ali said, (the leader asked the believers): ‘Has not the Messenger of Allah SAW commanded you to obey me?’ They said, ‘yes’. He said, ‘collect some wood’, and then he started a fire with the wood, saying, ‘I command you to enter the fire’. The people almost entered the fire, but a young man among them said, ‘you only ran away from the fire to Allah’s Messenger, therefore do not rush, until you go back to Allah’s Messenger, and if he commands you to enter it, then enter it’. The Messenger of Allah SAW said: ‘The Muslim is required to hear and obey , in that which he likes and dislikes, unless he was commanded to sin.When he is commanded with sin, then there is no hearing or obeying’ This Hadith is recorded in two Sahihs. [Fath al Bari 7:655; Muslim 3:1469] 159

Another Hadith narrated by Anas states that the Messenger of Allah SAW said, ‘Hear and obey (your leaders), even if an Ethiopian slave whose head is like a raisin, is made your chief’. In two Sahihs, it is recorded that Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah said, ‘whoever obeys me, obeys Allah, and who ever disobeys me, disobeys Allah. Whoever obeys my commander, obeys me, and who ever disobeys my commander disobeys me’. [Fath al Bari 13:119, Muslim 1466] 184 Ye have indeed in the Apostle of Allah a beautiful pattern of (conduct) for anyone whose hope is in Allah and the Final Day and who engages much in the praise of Allah. [33:21] (4.9.3) The Purpose of Qur’an as compared to other Scriptures: [wa- anzalnaa 'ilay -ka al- kitaab bi- al- h.aqq mus.addiq(an) li- maa bayna yadai -hi min al- kitaab wa- muhaymin(an) calay –hi…] “To thee We sent the Scripture in truth confirming the scripture that came before it and guarding it in safety…[5:48] The Qurán comes with a two fold purpose: (1) to confirm the true and original Message, and (2) to guard it or act as a check to its interpretation. 185 The Qur’an claims very strongly that because of human interference, all other existing books containing the Word of Allah got mixed up with the words of others, and this is why The Qur’an came as the last revelation, intact with the Word of Allah. The main teachings given to the previous prophets are fully preserved in the Qur’an.186 In Arabic haymana, yuhayminu and hayamanah signify ‘ to protect, to witness, to keep trust, to back and to support’. To say that the Qur’an is muhaymin of al kitab means that it preserves all the true teachings of the earlier divine books, that it has secured them from loss. The Qur’an also confirms those Books in that the contents of the Qur’an testify to the truth of those parts which are indeed from God. The Quran is further, a witness over these Books in the sense that, with its help, the elements which embody true revelations from God can be distinguished from the accretions which have corrupted them. Whatever in these Books accords with the Qur’an is from God, and whatever is not in conformity with it is from human being. This point is of major significance. It could also have been said that the Qurán confirms all those parts of the earlier divine books which are still extant in their original form. But the sense has been conveyed by employing the word ‘the Book’ rather than ‘the previous Books’. This expression reveals that the Qurán and all those Books sent down by God at various times in different languages in reality constitute one and the same Book. Their author is one and the same; their aim and the purpose is the same; their teaching is the same; the knowledge which they seek to impart is the same. The difference between these Books lies in their modes of expression, and this was necessarily so, since they were addressed to different audiences. It is therefore not merely that these divine books support than contradict each other, but that they are actually different editions of one and the same book—‘the Book’: 187 [the Ummul Kitab- which is authorised by God Himself Who brings changes to the Shariah (laws) when He desires.] 160

(4.9.4) Order to Judge other Scriptures through Qur’an : […fa- uh.kum bayna -hum bi- maa anzala 'allaah wa- laa tattabic ahwaa' -hum can maa jaa'a -ka min al- h.aqq] …So judge between them by what Allah hath revealed and follow not their vain desires diverging from the truth that hath come to thee. [5:48] Muhaymin is that which testifies the truth that is therein and falsifies the falsehood that is added therein.188 Allah says: In Qurán 5:48 Al-Muhaymin in Arabic means “The one who is in charge or “protector”. It is one of Allah’s Supreme Names because He is the Protector of the whole universe.” The Qurán is the protector of former Books, it commands the Muslim to believe in them, explains the truth therein, and clarifies the change and alteration in them. Being the last Message, it is the reliable reference in any dispute. Anything in the former books that does not agree with its texts is either altered or nullified. Ibn Katheer says about the word Muhaymin: “This word has many equivalents of similar meanings: protector, witness, and final judge over all the former Books. Allah (SWT) has made this noble book, which is the last one, the greatest, most comprehensive and most perfect of all the Books.” And verily, it is an honorable well-fortified respected Book. No falsehood can approach it from before it or behind it: [it is] sent down by the All-Wise, Worthy of all praise [Allah] (Qurán 41:41-42) 189 (4.9.5) Understanding the word ‘kitab’: (i) The Mother of all Books and the Authority to Abrogate: We did send apostles before thee [O Muhamad] and appointed for them wives and children: and it was never the part of an apostle to bring a Sign except as Allah permitted (or commanded). For each period (‘ajal’): is a Book (revealed). Allah doth blot out or confirm what He pleaseth: with Him is the Mother of the Book. [13:38_39] The above Ayahs were revealed in response to an objection, which was expressed at that time by the enemies of Muhammad SAW. The unbelievers decried him for being one like ordinary mortals, in so far as his life was also encumbered, with such worldly concerns, as those relating to spouse and children. The opponents also contended that Prophet Moses (pbuh) was supported by the miracles of a white shining hand, and a miraculous rod. Likewise, Jesus was also supported by miracles like restoring sight of the blind, and to cure the leper...As we know that the Miracle of Rasul Allah SAW was the Qur’an itself, they asked why a new Book should have been revealed, even though the earlier scriptures were extant. They took note of the Prophet’s claim that the earlier scriptures had been distorted, and that with the Revelation of the Qur’an- which replaced them- the earlier scriptures got abrogated. 161

Thus the expression ‘Umm al Kitab’ (Mother of the Book), which occurs in the verse, refers to that ‘Original Book’, which is the source of all heavenly scriptures. Words J. Penrice 190 D. Khudrawi 191 Kitaabum The name given to the preserved tablet of Lit.: ‘The manifest or clear book’. Mubeen God’s Decrees, from which the Koran, is The term is used in the Qur’an, both said to have been copied; for the tablet of Decrees (al lawhu’l- mahfuz), and for the Qur’an itself; Kataba To write down, transcribe, to prescribe, ‘Kataballahu Alaihi’: ‘Qaddara’: To Command, Ordain, or Decree in writing. Ex. Predestine (to), destine (to), fore <Wa katabna alaihim feeha..> “And We ordained (to); wrote for them therein a Command that...” [5:45]; To inscribe, as in 52:41 and 68:47; ‘Kaatibun Nabi’: The Prophet’s Scribe; Kutubun A Book, Writing, Scripture, Written ‘Kutub Samawiyah’: Revealed Revelation, Decree, Letter; at 2:236 it may Books, Divine Books; be translated “the prescribed period”. Al Kitaab The Holy Scriptures; also the Book in which The Book. A Term used for the a record is kept of all men’s actions, and an Qur’an, and extended to all inspired extract from which, each one shall have Books of the Jews and the placed in his hand at the Last Day, as in Christians, who are called Ahlu’l- 17:14; Kitaab, or believers in the book; Kitaabi ‘Ahlul Kitab’: The Jews and the Christians A term used for one of the (Ahlul Kitab), or, The People of the Book, or those in possession of the inspired Word of Allah, as Jews and Christians; (O Prophet) Whether We make you see, a part of the punishment that We have threatened them with, come to pass during your lifetime, or We take you away, before that happens, your duty is no more than to convey the Message, and it is for Us, to make a reckoning...and Allah is sufficient as a Witness between me and you, and those who know the Scriptures. [13:40, 43] God does not act in haste in judging people. He does not summarily punish or reward people the very moment they reject or accept a Messenger’s call. Instead God grants a long respite, both to individuals and to nations. 192 Allah bears Witness: Never have We destroyed a population to whom We did not send Warners; they were forewarned, and We have never been unjust. This Qur'an is not brought down by the shaitans: it is neither in their interest nor in their power to produce such a masterpiece. [26:208_211] 162

So the meaning of the following Verse: <For each period is a Book (revealed). Allah doth blot out or confirm what He pleaseth: with Him is the Mother of the Book. [13:38_39]> is that Allah has the Authority to Abrogate what laws and or Orders He wishes to. In other words, Allah blots out, what he wills, of the divinely revealed Books, and confirms that the Qur’an, revealed from Allah to His Messenger peace be upon him, abrogated them all. 193 We have already discussed abrogation of laws, in detail, in the previous chapter. See sections 3.2.11: ‘The Covenant of the Prophets’, and onwards. Not only is the Rasul Muhammad SAW, the Prophet of God, but also the Book, al Qur’an the Last Testament of God, as this is the last epoch before Qayamah/Doom of the Last Day. See also section 2.2.3. <Every Age had its Revelation>, or a “Divine Writ” See 5:48 <“Unto every one of you have We appointed a [different] law and way of life”.> (in section 4.5 below), which expains, the succession of Divine Messages, culminating in, and ending with the revelation of the Qur’an. The interpretation of the above phrase, adopted among others, by Ibn Kathir- connects it plausibly with the preceding mention of the Apostles who came before Muhammad, and with the subsequent reference to the supersession of the earlier divine messages, by that of the Qur’an. Apart from this the statement that every age had a revelation, suited to the particular needs of the time and the people concerned [Zamakhshari] constitutes an answer to the objection , often raised by the followers of other creeds, that the Message of the Qur’an differs in many respects from the earlier Divine Revelations. [Razi] 194 Never did We destroy a population that had not a term decreed and assigned beforehand. Neither can a people anticipate its Term nor delay it. [15:4_5] (ii) The Book of Decrees and Qadar: They say: "When will this promise come to pass if ye speak the truth?" Say: "I have no power over any harm or profit to myself except as Allah willeth. To every People is a term appointed: when their term is reached not an hour can they cause delay nor (an hour) can they advance (it in anticipation). [10:48_49] Statements are frequently met with, in the Holy Qur’an, in which God is spoken of as having written down the doom of a nation, or a man’s form of life, or an affliction. Such verses have also been misconstrued, as upholding the doctrine of predestination. The useless controversy, as to whether God was, or was not, the creator of man’s deeds, divided the Muslim world into three camps. The misconception is due to the wrong interpretation of the word ‘Kitab’, which ordinarily carries, the significance of writing, but has been freely used, in Arabic literature and in the Holy Qur’an itself, in a variety of senses. Raghib says, “The word Kitaba carries the significance of ‘ithbat’, i.e., establishing or confirming, and ‘taqdir’, that is measuring out, and ‘ijab’, i.e., making obligatory, and ‘fardz’, i.e., making incumbent, and ‘azm bi-l-kitaba’, i.e., determination to write down. 163

And, further on, it is stated that ‘kitaba’ also signifies ‘qadza’, i.e. what has been brought to pass, and ‘hukm’ i.e. order and ‘ilm’, i.e. knowledge. Qadar and Taqdir, according to Raghib, mean the making manifest of the measure of a thing, or simply, measure. Referring to the distinction between ‘qadza’ and ‘qadar’, Raghib says that Qadar is the measure, while Qadza is the decision, or the bringing of it, into action. Four things are mentioned regarding everything created, including man: its ‘khalq’ or creation; its ‘taswiya’ or completion, its ‘taqdir’ or measure, and its ‘hidaya’ or guidance to its goal. Everything that is created, so as finally to attain to its completion, this completion being brought about, according to a law or a measure, within which everything works by Divine guidance. Thus the Taqdir of everything is the law or the measure of its growth and development. There is only one occasion in the holy Qur’an, on which a derivative of Taqdir is used, to indicate the fate of a person. Speaking of the wife of Lot, the Holy Qur’an says: ‘We ordained (qaddana) that she shall be of those who remain behind’ (15:60; 27:57). But even here it does not mean that God had ordained that she should be a doer of evil. There is mention here of an ordinance, which holds good in the case of all evil doers that they should suffer, the evil consequences, of what they have done; she was not one of the faithful, but a disbeliever, so that when Divine punishment overtook the evildoers, she was ordained to be with them. The doctrine of predestination is of later growth, and seems to have been the result of the clash of Islam with Persian Religious thought. It may, however be added that, God is recognized by the Holy Qur’an, as the first and the ultimate cause of all things. He has also created the circumstances, under which he lives and acts. The truth is from your Lord, so let him who pleases, accept (it), and let him who pleases, reject (it). (18:29) And as he can exercise his discretion, or his will in doing it, he is responsible for his own deeds, and is made to suffer the consequences. Now in the first place, it must be clearly understood, what God’s knowledge of the future means. The fact is that the future is an open Book to God. The limitations of space and time, which are everything to man, are nothing to God... and the past and the future, are like the present, and mere knowledge of athing, does not interfere with, the choice of the agent of doer. Hence God’s foreknowledge has nothing to do with predestination. If God knows, what will happen in the future, whether a particular man will take a good or an evil course, it follows that that man must take that particular course, for the knowledge of God cannot be untrue. 195 Mujahid commented, ‘During Laylatul Qadr (Night of the Decrees), Allah decides what provisions and disasters will occur in the next year of. He then brings forward or back (or blots 164

out) whatever He wills’. Imam Ahmad recorded that Thawban said that the Messenger of Allah SAW said: ‘A man might be deprived of the provision (that was written for him) because of a sin that he commits; only supplication [or dua] changes Al Qadar (Predestination); and only Birr (righteousness) can increase the life span’. [Ahmad 5:227, Ibn Majah 90] Al-A’mash narrated that Abu Wa’il, Shaqiq bin Salamah said that he used to recite this supplication often, ‘O Allah, if You wrote us among the wretched ones, remove this status from us, and write us among the blessed ones. If You wrote us among the blessed ones, pease let us stay that way, for surely, You blot out, and confirm, what You Will, and with You is the Mother of the Book’. [At Tabari 16:481] 196 (iii) What category of Inspiration Qur’an falls into: The medium that Allah adopts in conveying His Message to the Nabi or the Rasul is that of the Maliakah or an Angel. Even among the Angels there are different categories, who are allotted works of different nature. Usually it is Arch Angel Gabriel/ Jibreel AS/ Roohul Ameen, who is associated with carrying and transferring the WORD of Allah to the Prophets. Broadly speaking there are two kinds of Inspiration (Wahy): (a) Wahy Zahir (External Inspiration), and (b) Wahy Batin (Internal Inspiration). (a) External Inspiration (Wahy Zahir): • WAHYU QUR’AN/WAHY MATLU: Wahyu Qur’an, or that, which was received from the mouth of the Angel Gabriel, and reached the ear of the Prophet, after he knew beyond doubt that it was the Angel who spoke to him. This is the only kind of Inspiration admitted to be in the Qur’an. It is sometimes called ‘Wahy Matlu’. Every word of the Qur’an, at whatever stage it is delivered, comes in the category of “Qaal Allahu” or”Thus saith the Lord”. (b) Internal Inspiration (Wahy Batin/Wahy Khafiyy): • WAHY HADITH/ WAHY-GHAIR- MATLU: Internal Inspiaration is that which the Prophet obtained by thought and analogical reasoning. The Inspiration of the Hadis, is held to be inspired, by the lower forms of Inspiration, i.e., Ishratul Malak, Ilham or Wahyu Qalb. The Inspiration of the Hadis is called, the Wahy-ghair-Matlu. (See Nuru’l Anwar, p. 181; Mishkat Book 1 ch vi pt.2) 165

 (i) ISHAARATUL MALAK: or that which was received from the angel, but not by word of mouth, as when the Prophet said, ‘the Holy Ghost has breathed into my heart’.  (ii) ILHAM OR WAHYU QALB: or that which was made known to the Prophet by the ‘light of prophecy’. This kind of inspiration is said to be possessed by Walis or Saints, in which case, it may be either true or false.197 (iv) The difference between Qur’an and other Scriptures of God: The Inspired Words of God through any of the following mediums is termed as the Revelation of God. Divine Revelation (as we discussed earlier in Chapter 2, Section 2.2.1) to man is stated to be of three kinds: “ And it is not for any mortal that Allah should speak to him except by Inspiring or from behind a veil, or by sending a messenger, and revealing His permission what He pleases” (42:51): (1) The first of these, which is called Wahy in the original is the inspiring of an idea into the heart, for the word Wahy is used here in the original significance of a hasty suggestion, or infusing into the heart, as distinguished from a Revelation in words. This is technically called Wahy Khafiyy or Inner Revelation [as discussed here above in (v) b: i: Ishratul Malak], and the Sayings of the Holy Prophet touching religious matters are in this class. The Holy Prophet himself is reported to have said on such an occasion: ‘The Holy Spirit has inspired (this) into my heart’ –Revelation in this form is common to both, Prophets and those, who are not Prophets, and it is more or less, in this sense, the sense of putting a suggestion into the mind or what is called a ‘limma’ or a ‘waswasa’ of the devil, that the devils are spoken of as bringing wahy to their friends: “And the devils do suggest (yuhun from wahy) to their friends” (6:22). (2) The second mode of God’s speaking to man is said to be “from behind a veil” (min wara’i hijab), and this includes “ru’ya” (dream), “kashf” (vision), and “ilham” (when voices are heard or uttered in the state of trance, the recipient being, neither quite asleep, nor fully awake). [We discussed Revelation of a dream, before in Chapter 2, Section 2.2.1: A: ii; and Ilham, here above in (v) b: ii: Ilham]This form of Revelation is also common, both to Prophets and those who are not Prophets. In its simplest form, ru’ya or the dream is a universal experience of the whole of humanity. The Holy Qur’an tells us of the vision of a King, who was apparently not a believer in God (“The king (of Egypt) said: "I do see (in a vision) seven fat kine whom seven lean ones devour and seven green ears of corn and seven (others) withered. O ye chiefs! expound to me my vision if it be that ye can interpret visions." (12:43))- a vision which had a deep underlying significance. (3) The third kind which is peculiar to the Prophets of God, is that in which the Angel Gabriel, brings the Divine Message in Words. This is the surest and the clearest form of revelation, and such was the Revelation of the Qur’an to the Holy Prophet SAW. [We discussed this above in (v) a]This is called Wahy Matluww, or Revelation that is recited in words. It is the highest and the most developed form of Revelation, and it was in this form 166

that the Revelation was granted to all the Prophets of God, to Noah, to Abraham, to Moses, and to every Prophet of every Nation. 198 In today’s terminology, the Revelation that is ‘written down’ for remembrance is called the “Book”. The difference between the Revelations of God found in al Qur’an and the existing Previous Scriptures or the Holy Books, is that the Revelations of Qur’an was fully preserved from day one, in the memory of the believers, and also written down on parchments available in those days. Allah had made it incumbent upon the believers to preserve this Last Message because Muhammad SAW was the Last Apostle, and his Book was to be retained untill the Last Day. And that is why there is a clear cut distinction in the classifications of the Qur’an (as the Word of God) and the Hadith (as the word of the Prophet- based on the chain of the narrators could decide their authenticity), and the Tafsir (Exegesis- based on the qaul and analogy of the mufassirins) that makes so easy to make anyone believe in God who has a logical mind. Whereas the other Scriptures existing today have no fool proof guarantee that whether any effort to preserve their authenticity was maintained or not, as the case with Qur’an is, as in the olden days, there were few resources to preserve them, and wallahu Alam, most possibly there were no such instructions by God to preserve them in Book form because the Prophets kept on coming one after another, to alter the laws and direct people in to what was required for them to do. A study indicates a wide gap between the founding of the Revelation/Book and the approximate date it is known to be written: Faith Book Founder Found Writte Gap Author n JUDAISM Mishna MOSES 2810B 220 BC 259 RABBIMIER C 0 HINDUISM Bhagwath ARYANS 2410B 700 BC 171 BRAHMAN Geetha C 0 ZOROASTRIANIS Avestha ZOROASTER 630BC 396 BC 234 ARTAXEXREX M JAINISM Ahimsa MAHAVEERA 586BC 400 BC 186 DIGAMBRA CONFUCIANISM Lung Yu CONFUCIUS 580BC 350 AC 930 TZUSZU TAOISM Tao Te Ching LAO TZU 570BC 995 AC 156 CHUANTAO 5 BUDDHISM Threepitaka SIDHADHARTHA 550AC 450 AC 100 BUDHAGOSH 0 A CHRISTIANITY Bible JESUS 30 AC 325 AC 295 GOSPELLERS SHINTOISM Kajiki CHIN SEN TAO 620AC 712 AC 92 JIMTENHO LAMAISM Brahmasutra PADMASAMBAW 700 AC 450 AC 750 TSONKAPA A SIKHISM Granth GURU NANAK 1530A 1605AC 75 ARJAN C From the above table, we find that these Scriptures: 167

1) ARE NOT IN ACCORDANCE with the period when the faith was founded or originated 2) WERE NOT WRITTEN by their founders or originators but by the historians. 3) The NAME OF THEIR RELIGION IS NOT being taught or found written in their scriptures as The Religion Given By God. 199 Moreover, the believers who did try to write down the Revelations received by them, did it in their own style, seeking and preserving their sectial benefit. Allah informs us through Qur’an that: Know they not that Allah knoweth what they conceal and what they reveal? And there are among them illiterates who know not the Book but (see therein their own) desires and they do nothing but conjecture. Then woe to those who write the Book with their own hands and then say: "This is from Allah" to traffic with it for a miserable price! Woe to them for what their hands do write and for the gain they make thereby. [2:77_79] The Jews wanted to keep back knowledge, but what knowledge had they? Many of them even if they could read, were no better than illiterates, for they knew not their own True Scriptures, but read into them what they wanted, or at best their own conjectures.They palmed off their own writings for the Message of God. Perhaps it brought them profit for the time being; but it was a miserable profit, if they “gained the whole world and lost their own souls” (Matt. Xvi.26) “Writing with their own hands”, means inventing Books themselves, which had no Divine Authority. The general argument is similar. Unfaith erects its own false gods. 200 That is why what remains of the Previously revealed Books existing today is not an original word of God. When Allah makes it a part of a Muslim belief to believe in the Previous Scriptures that came before Qur’an was revealed, He Implies that we believe in the essence of truth that lied in those Scriptures. The Code of Belief that was same in all of them. It was only the Codes of Conducts that varied in different periods. The reason why so many interpretters of Qur’an have interpretted that it is the ‘Rasul’ alone who receives the ‘Book’, and not the ‘Nabi’, is that they have not studied the Arabic word ‘Kitab’ in detail. In most Ayahs of Qur’an Allah describes the Rasul as going to the mushrikeen and elite people of the society who have deviated from the worship of God Almighty, and the Nabi as reaching the believers, who already believed in monotheism, but somehow had abandoned Salah, Zakaat, and other orders necessary to be a complete Muslim (One who submits). Therefore one difference between the two (the Nabi and the Rasul) is that, the da’irah of a Nabi is smaller, as compared to the da’irah of a Rasul. If only monotheism (or the most necessary Belief code) was required to be a Muslim, there wouldn’t have arose any need of sending a Nabi (who lays emphasis on the Codes of Conduct) for the believing folks. For example the Children of Israel or Yahuds or Jews had been the worshippers of One God, but why then Allah sent them a continuous line of Prophets, reminding them to follow Islam in its totality (comprising both- the Belief code and the Conduct code)? 168

Allah’s purpose has always been to establish a society, not indulging in sins and committing indecensies in society, so that people live together in peace. He wants us to be aware of the evil consequences that are met by abandoning the Belief Code, as well as the consequences of abandoning the Codes of conduct. The peace is not what we perceive in today’s terms: ignoring the faults of the rich and powerful, and punishing the poor and weak of the society. On the contrary True Religion lays emphasis on fighting the evils of society that have arisen due to more people favouring the Devil than God. Outwardly the leaders show the world that they have great Aastha for God, and that they are working for peace. But in reality they are working to safeguard the sect that they believe in. They are not concerned with the True Religion, but only the Sect that they have divided this One Religion into. If Muslims call them to the Religion of ‘sirat e mustaqeem’ (the way of the straight), they will perceive it a war on their confined culture, they think that their only Dharm is. So shameful!! True Religion has come into origin because God wants Justice to prevail. And this Justice and Peace could be attained only with the understanding of the preserved Word of God- the Qur’an and the Sunnah of the Prophet and Rasul Muhammad SAW, the Khatim al Ambiya, the role model for the whole humanity until Qayamah. The Belief Codes from every Rasul to Rasul and Nabi to Nabi were the same (as we shall see, how), but the Codes of Conduct varied from Rasul to Rasul, and Nabi to Nabi in some cases. And this is why in the world we see so many Religions, is because their manners of perceiving God differed, and got mixed with the views of the disbelievers. Through Muhammad SAW Allah gave us the grand view to understand the different perceptions of people, and then judge and follow Islam in accordance with the principles of Belief and Conduct, laid down in it. To sum up: The Qur'an is the last of the Divine Books sent down by God and there are some very pertinent differences between it and the previous Books. These differences may briefly be stated as follows: 1. The original texts of most of the former Divine Books were lost altogether, and only their translations exist today. The Qur'an, on the other hand, exists exactly as it was revealed to the Prophet: not a word — nay, not a syllable of it — has been changed. It is available in its original text and the Word of God has been preserved for all time. 2. In the former Divine Books man mixed his words with God's, but in the Qur'an we find only the words of God — and in their pristine purity. This is admitted even by the opponents of Islam. 169

3. In respect of no other sacred Book possessed by different peoples can it be said on the basis of authentic historical evidence that it really belongs to the same Prophet to whom it is attributed. In the case of some of them it is not even known in what age and to which Prophet they were revealed. As for the Qur'an, the evidence that it was revealed to Muhammad (blessings of Allah and peace be upon him) is so voluminous, so convincing, so strong and so compelling that even the fiercest critics of Islam cannot cast doubt on it. This evidence is so detailed that even the occasion and place of the revelation of many verses and injunctions of the Qur'an can be known with certainty. 4. The former Divine Books were sent down in languages, which died long ago. No nation or community now speaks those languages and there are only a few people who claim to understand them. Thus, even if the Books existed today in their original and unadulterated form, it would be virtually impossible in our age to correctly understand and interpret their injunctions and put them into practice in their required form. The language of the Qur'an, on the other hand is a living language; millions of people speak it, and millions more know and understand it. It is being taught and learnt in nearly every university of the world; every man can learn it, and he who has not time to learn it can find men everywhere who know this language and can explain to him the meaning of the Qur'an. 5. Each one of the existing sacred Books found among different nations of the world has been addressed to a particular people. Each one contains a number of commands which seem to have been meant for a particular period of history and which meet the needs of that age only. They are neither needed today, nor can they now be smoothly and properly put into practice. It is evident from this that these Books were particularly meant for that particular people and not for the world. Furthermore, they were not sent to be followed permanently by even the people they were intended for; they were meant to be acted upon only for a certain period. In contrast to this the Qur'an is addressed to all mankind; not a single injunction of it can be suspected as having been addressed to a particular people. In the same manner, all the commands and injunctions in the Qur'an can be acted upon at any place and in any age. This proves that the Qur'an is meant for the whole world, and is an eternal code for human life. 6. There is no denying the fact that the previous divine Books also enshrined good and virtue; they also taught the principles of morality and truthfulness and presented the mode of living, which was to God's pleasure. But none of them was comprehensive enough to embrace all that is necessary for a virtuous human life. Some of them excelled in one respect others in some other. It is the Qur'an and the Qur'an alone which enshrined not only all that was good in the former Books but also perfects the way of Allah and presents it in its entirety and outlines that code of life which comprehends all that Is necessary for man on this earth. 7. On account of man's interpolations, many things have been inserted in those Books, which are against reality, revolting to reason and an affront to every instinct of justice. There are things, which are cruel and unjust, and vitiate man's beliefs and actions. Furthermore, things have unfortunately been inserted that are obscene, indecent and highly immoral. The Qur'an is free of all such rubbish. It contains nothing against reason, and nothing that can be proved wrong. None of its injunctions is unjust; nothing in it is misleading. Of indecency and immorality not a trace can be found. From the beginning to the end the Book is full of wisdom and truth. It contains the best of philosophy and the choicest of law for human civilisation. It points out the right path and guides man to success and salvation. 170

It is on account of these special features of the Qur'an that all the peoples of the world have been directed to have faith in it, to give up all other Books and to follow it alone. The study of the difference between the Qur'an and other divine Books makes one easily understand that the natures of faith in the Qur’an and of belief in the former Books are not similar. Faith in the earlier divine Books should be limited to the confirmation that they were all from God, were true and were sent down to fulfill, in their time, the same purpose for which the Qur'an has been sent. On the other hand, belief in the Qur'an should be of the nature that it is purely and absolutely God's own words, that it is perfectly true, that every word of it is preserved, that everything mentioned therein is right, that it is the bounden duly of man lo carry out in his life each and every command of it and that whatever be against it must be rejected. 201 (v) How the Final Testament of God (Qur’an) is Guarded against incongruence? It is God Himself who bears witness of guarding Qur’an against corruption. We have without doubt sent down the Message [of al Qur’an]; and We will assuredly guard it. [15:9] The Qur'an is the only Holy Script that survived without changes, additions, or deletions. There are many circumstances and factors that collaborated in preserving the original text of Qur'an which were not enjoyed by other Holy Scripts (the Old Testament or the New Testament). These factors are summarized in the following: i- The Qur'an was preserved in a written form during the life of the Prophet. Although Prophet Muhammad did know how to read or write, however, he had several amanuensis who were entrusted with the inscription of the revelations. ii- The whole text of the Qur'an was memorized by heart by many of the Companions of the Prophet. This formed an additional means to guarantee the correctness of the written text of the Qur'an. iii- Prophet Muhammad used to review the till-then-revealed verses of Qur'an with Archangel Gabriel every year in a process called "ardan". In the last year of his life, the Prophet reviewed the whole text of the Qur'an twice. The Companions of the Prophets also reviewed the Qur'an they were memorizing and what they have in written form with the Prophet. iv- The Qur'an was compiled in a single book (Mus'haf) a few months after the death of the Prophet. The correctness of the text of this Mus'haf was reviewed and attested by the "Hafizoon" from the Companions of the Prophet. v- When Prophet Muhammad died he left behind a strong Islamic State in Arabia with thousands of devout companions and followers. Those Muslims are the ones who carried Islam to different parts of the world, and in less than ten years from the death of the Prophet were able to conquer both the Roman and Persian Empires. Devout followers usually preserve the 171

teachings of their leader after his death, and protect it from any changes or corruption. vi- The Qur'an was revealed in Arabic and in the dialect of Kuraish [Quraish], the tribe that was living in Mecca; this dialect was the most widely used among Arabs. Arabic is a highly stable language. For the last 1400 years, it has not suffered any changes in vocabulary, grammar, spelling, or pronunciation. The stability of the Arabic language is definitely an important factor in preserving the teachings of Islam. It is fair to say here that the Qur'an and the Arabic language have positive mutual effects on each other. The fact that the Qur'an was revealed in Arabic made Arabic the language of Islam that all Muslim ought to learn and use in reciting Qur'an and studying the different sciences related to the religion of Islam. 202 (vi) Named Books of Allah in Quran and Hadith: The Books described by name in the Qur’an and the Hadith are one hundred and four, being given - to Adam, the Ten Suhuf (Ten Pages) - to Shees, the Fifty Suhuf (Fifty Pages) - to Idris (Enoch), the Thirty Suhuf (Thirty Pages) - to Ibrahim (Abraham), the Ten Suhuf (Ten Pages) - to Musa (Moses), the “Taurah” - to Dawud (David), the “Zaboor” - to Isa (Jesus), the “Injeel” - to Muhammad (SAW), the Qur’an 172

(4.10) SECTS /RELIGIONS MENTIONED IN QUR’AN: Qur’an uses the word ‘ahbar’ for Jewish priests, and the word ‘ruhban’ for the Christian monks, and says that their people, that is, the jews and the Christians, “take their priests and their anchorites to be their lords in derogation of Allah and (they take as their Lord) Christ the son of Mary; Yet they were commanded to worship but one Allah: there is no god but He. Praise and glory to him: (far is He) from having the parents they associate (with him). [9:31]; there are indeed many among the priests and anchorites who in falsehood devour the substance of men and hinder (them) from the way of Allah. And there are those who bury gold and silver and spend it not in the way of Allah: announce unto them a most grievous penalty.[9:34] Qur’an also tells about the priests and monks, who recognize Muhammad SAW as the Rasool of Allah: When they (monks and priests) listen to that which is revealed to the Rasool, you can see their eyes filled with tears, because they recognize the truth. They say: "Our Rabb! We believe, therefore, write us down among the witnesses of truth.[5:83] (1) The Jews are called the ‘Yahud’: The Jews are the followers of Prophet Musa, who used to refer to the Tawrah for Judgment. Yahud is a word that means, ‘repenting’, just as Musa said <Certainly we have Hudna to you> meaning, we repent to you.This indicates that they were first called Yahud, because they repented and, because they were kind to each other. It was also said that they were called Yahud in reference to Yahuda (Judah), the eldest son of Prophet Ya’qub. Abu Amr bin Al-‘Ala said that they were called Yahud, because tey swayed when they read the Tawrah. (2) The Christians are called ‘Nasara’: When Isa AS was sent, the Children of Israel were required to follow and obey him. The followers of Isa and his companions are called An Nasara, because they gave aid and support to each other. They are also called Ansar (helpers), as Isa AS said, <Who will be my helpers in Allah’s cause?”> (61:14). It was said that they were called ‘Nasara’ because they inhabited a land called An Naasirah (Nazareth), as Qatadah, Ibn Jurayj and Ibn Abbas were reported to have said (Ar-Razi 3:97). Allah knows best. Nasara is certainly plural for Nasraan. When Allah sent Muhammad SAW as the Last and Final Prophet and Messenger to all the children of Adam, mankind was required to believe in him, obey him and refrain from what he prohibited them; those who do this are true believers. The Ummah of Muhammad Saw was 173

called ‘Mu’min’ (Believers), because of the depth of their faith and certainty, and because they believe in all the previous Prophets and matters of the Unseen. (3) The Sabi’un or Sabians: There is a difference of opinion over the identity of the Sabians. Sufyan Ath-Thawri said that Layth bin Abu Sulaym said that Mujahid said that, ‘The Sabians are between the Majus, the Jews and the Christians. They do not have any specific religion.’ Similar is reported from Ibn Abi Najih. (At-Tabari 2:146). Similar statements are attributed to Ata and Sa’id bin Jubayr (Ibn Abi Hatim 1:199_200). They (others) say that the Sabians are a sect among the People of the Book who used to read the Zabur (Psalms), others say that they were people who worshipped the angels or the stars. It appears that the closest opinion to the truth, and Allah knows best, is Mujahid’s statement, and those who agree with him, like Wahb bin Munabbih, that the Sabians are neither Jews, nor Christians, nor Majus, nor polytheists. Rather they did not have a specific religion that they followed and enforced, because they remained living according to their Fitrah (instinctual nature). This is why the idolaters used to call, whoever embraced Islam, a ‘Sabi’, meaning that he abandoned all religions that existed on the earth. Some scholars stated that the Sabians are those who never received a message by any Prophet. And Allah knows best. 203 According to M. Muhsin, Sabians was a past nation, used to live in Musal, Iraq (where Abraham lived) , and say La ilaha illallah, and used to read Az Zabur of the Sabians, and they were neither Jews, nor Christians. Surely as for those who are true believers (the Muslims), the Jews, the Sabians, the Christians, the Magians and the ones who commit shirk (polytheists) - Allah will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection; for Allah is a witness over everything. [22:17] This Ayah adds two other people to the earlier list- the Majus and the Mushrikeen- who perceive Allah in more than one deity. (4) The Magians: This is the only place where Magians [Majus] are mentioned. Their cult is very ancient one. They consider fire as the purest and noblest element, and worship it, as a fit emblem of Allah. Their Scripture is the Zend Avesta, the Bible of the Parsis. 204 (5) The Polytheists: It is not said that they would receive Allah’s Mercy, but only that Allah will judge between their various forms of faith. (6) The Zoroastrians religious places: Did not Allah check one set of people by means of another there would surely have been pulled down monasteries churches synagogues and mosques in which the name of Allah is commemorated in abundant measure. Allah will certainly aid those who aid His (cause); for verily Allah is Full of Strength Exalted in Might (Able to enforce His Will). [22:40] 174

In this Ayah, Allah mentioned four religious places, where Allah’s name had been called as: (a) “Sawami”: means, the small temples used by monks. Qatadah said that this refers to the places of worship of the Sabians, according to another report he said, ‘the sawami’ of the Zoroastrians’, and Muqatil bin Hayyan said, ‘these are houses along the roads’. (b) “Biya”: These are larger than the Sawami, and accommodate more worshippers. The Christians also have these. Ibn Jubayr reported from Mujahid, and others, that this referred to the Synagogues of the Jews, which are known to them as Salut. (c) “Salawat”:Al Awfi reported that Ibn Abbas said, ‘Salawaat means churches’ 205 (d) “masjids”: are the prayer places of Muslims. That is why along with the Jews, Christians, Sabians, Zoroastrians are also included in the People of the Book. It is also known that when Mahdi comes, the fire in the temple of Zoroastrians will blow off, which may imply that they will accept Islam as their religion; and thus also Hindus too who once worshipped Allah without shirk, and later got deviated into worshipping false deities, will be told, where they went wrong, on the Day of Judgement. (7) The worshippers of Sirius Star: In one Ayah, Allah says, “He is the Lord of Sirius (the Mighty Star)” [53:49], implies that there were people who worshipped the Star Sirius, for Allah. According to the ancient Egytians, it was the god Thoth who created writing, and then bestowed it as a gift to mankind. The word ‘heiroglyph’, which refers to the characters, used in the writing of the ancient Egyptians, in fact means, ‘writing to the gods’ (from the Greek hieros, meaning ‘holy’, and from gluphein, ‘to engrave’.). The earliest known hieroglyphic inscription date back to 3rd millenium BC, but the script must have originated well before that. Among the best known monumentsof ancient Egyptian literature, is the Book of the Dead, written in hieroglyphs, under the 19th Dynasty, during the 13th cent.BC. The Elephantine Calendar was engraved during the reign of Tuthmosis I (c.1450 BC). It lists offerings that were to be presented annually to the gods on the day, when the Sothic Star (our Sirius) rose to the horizon. Its appearance is marked by the date: the twenty-eighth day of the third month of summer. (8) The Sun worshippers: There were people during the time when Queen Bilquees ruled in Saba, Yemen. They were people who worshipped sun as God, later, when invited by Solomon, she embraced Islam. We shall discuss these in the next chapters in detail. The idols worshipped will also be discussed. 175

(4.11) QUR’AN ON BELIEVERS OR THE “SAVED SECT”? Every Jew believes that only they will enter paradise, and all others will go to hell; every Christain believes that only they will enter paradise whereas Jews will go to hell because they refused to accept Jesus as Messiah. To this Allah explained, if the yahuds followed the laws of Musa in their times, they were on right path, but when Isa came, they should have been abiding by what Isa brought to them. Iin the similar manner, when Muhammad came, it is he who should be believed and followed, otherwise, they deserve hell, because rejecting a single prophet is like rejecting all prophets, and refusal to abide by God’s laws. Allah said: Those who believe (in the Qur'an) and those who follow the Jewish (Scriptures) and the Christians and the Sabians and who believe in Allah and the last day and work righteousness shall have their reward with their Lord; on them shall be no fear nor shall they grieve. [2:62] Ali bin Abi Talhah narrated from Ibn Abbas about this Ayah that Allah revealed the following Ayah: If anyone desires a religion other than Islam (submission to Allah) never will it be accepted of him; and in the Hereafter he will be in the ranks of those who have lost (all spiritual good). [3:85] This statement by Ibn Abbas indicates that Allah does not accept any deed or work for anyone, unless it conforms to the Law of Muhammad SAW that is, after Allah sent Muhammad SAW. Before that every person who followed the guidance of his own Prophet, was on the correct path, following the correct guidance, and was saved. 176

REFERENCES 137. http://thetruereligion.org/modules/wfsection/article.php?articleid=101, MESSENGERS: Prophethood in Islam, Published:2004/4/1, III&E 138. http://www.islamia.com/the_last_prophet.htm Source: Ideals and Realities of Islam by Seyyed Hossein Nasr 139. http://thetruereligion.org/modules/wfsection/article.php?articleid=101, MESSENGERS: Prophethood in Islam, Published: 2004/4/1, III&E 140. http://www.salaam.co.uk/themeofthemonth/february02_index.php?l=3 141. Ibn Kathir, Tafsir to 7:144_145, p.159 142. Ibn Kathir, Tafsir to 17:1, p.572_574, Volume 5 143. http://thetruereligion.org/modules/wfsection/article.php?articleid=101, MESSENGERS: Prophethood in Islam, Published: 2004/4/1, III&E 144. Maulana Abu’l Ala Mawdudi, Towards Understanding Islam, Tr. By KHURSHID AHMAD 145. M.Asad, note 100 to16:84, Al Alim 146. AY Ali, note 2126 to 16:89 and 560 to 4:41, Al Alim 147. Al Sheikh Muhammad Ali Sabuni, Prophethood and the Prophets, p.34 148. Maududi, Tafheem al Qur’an, Tafseer to 2:124, Volume I, p.111_112 149. Benjamin Walker, Foundations of Islam, The Making of a world Faith, p.33,30 150. Muzaffar-ud-Din Nadvi, A geographical history of the Quran, pp 17-56, Sent in Yahoo Groups by br. Farrukh, dated Jun 21, 2002 151. M.Asad, notes 66,67 to 21:71,72, Al Alim 152. A.Y Ali, note 3447 to 29:27 153. Sent in Yahoo Groups by brother Farrukh, Semitic, Anti-Semitic & Umam-i-Baidah (the destroyed races) from A Geographical History of the Quran, Book II, Ch1, dated, Jun 23, 2002 154. Benjamin Walker, Foundations of Islam, The Making of a world Faith, Last Page: Arab Descendants of Shem and The Koraysh 155. A.Y. ali’s note 303 to 2:258, Alim CD 156. Sayyid Abul A’la Mawdudi, notes 290_291 to 2:258, p.201. 157. Al Imam Ibn Kathir, Stories of the Prophets, Jamal Al Nasir 158. Ibn Kathir, Stories of the Prophets, p. 137, 138 159. Saniyasnain Khan, Tell me about the Prophet Yusuf 160. Ibn Kathir, Tafsir to 32:23, p.623,624, Volume 7 161. Ibn Kathir Tafsir to 21:48, p.456, Volume 6 162. AY Ali’s note 68 to 2:53, Al Alim 177

163. AY Ali’s note 3658 to 32:24, Al Alim 164. The passages are from ‘Who’s Who in the Bible’, created by The Reader’s Digest Association, Inc. Pleasantville, New York, Montreal 165. Tafsir Ibn Kathir, p.636, Volume 4 166. Ibn Kathir, Tafsir to 5:48, p.199, Volume 3 167. http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/encyclopedia/p/pe/people_of_the_book.htm 168. Abu Iman Abd ar-Rahman Robert Squires. © Muslim Answers, GOD: Who is Allah ? Published: 2004/3/31http://thetruereligion.org/modules/wfsection/article.php?articleid=71 169. http://saifur.tripod.com/muslimview.html Homepage Last updated July 25, 2005 170. Maulan Maududi, Tafhim al Qur’an, notes 77, 69_72 to 5:47, 43_44 respectivey, pp.163_167, Volume II 171. Maulana Mufti Muhammad Shafi, Maáraf al Qurán, Khulasa Tafseer to 5:44_45, p.154 172. Ibn Kathir, Tafsir to 5:45, p.185_186, Volume 3 173. M. Muhsin Khan note to 5:45, p.153 174. A.Y. Ali, notes 754,755 to 5:45 175. Maulana Maududi, Tafhim al Qur’an, note76 to 5:46, pp. 166_167 176. Maulana Mufti Muhammad Shafi, Maáraf al Qurán, Maáraf wa masaíl to 5:47_49, p.162 177. Muhammad Asad, note 6 to 61:6, Al Alim 178. AY Ali, note 5436 to 61:6, Al Alim 179. A.Y.Ali, 5438 to 61:6, Al Alim 180.Muhammad Asad, note 6 to 61:6, Al Alim 181. AY Ali, note 83 to 2:76, Al Alim 182. M.Asad, note 85 to 26:197, AL Alim 183. Ibn Kathir, Tafsir to 2:121, p.360_366, Volume 1 184. Ibn Kathir, Tafsir to 4:59, p.495_497, Volume2 185. A.Y. Ali’s note 759 to 5:48, page 258 186. Mohammed Abdul Malek, A study of the Qurán: The Universal Guidance for Mankind http://members.aol.com/Mamalek2/qbook1.htm 187. Maududi’s note 78, 79 to 5:48, p.168_169 188. M.Muhsin Khan, note (1) to 5:48, page 154 189. Dr.Umar Sulaiman Al-Ashqar, The Messengers and The Messages in the light of the Qurán and Sunnah, p. 168, 170,192,188-190 190. John Penrice, A Dictionary and Glossary of the Koran, “Kataba”, p.123_4 191. Deeb al Khudrawi, A Dictionary of Islamic terms, Arabic-English, p.359-360 192. Maulana Maududi, Tafhim al Qur’an, notes 55_58 to 13:38_39, p.245_247; and note 58 to 10:49, p.42, Volume IV 193. Ibn Kathir, Tafsir to 13:39, p. 299_300, Volume 5. 194. M. Asad, note 76 to 13:38, Al Alim 195. Maulana Muhammad Ali, The Religion of Islam, Ch VII: Qadar or Taqdir, p.315_320 196. Ibn Kathir, Tafsir to 13:39, p. 299_300, Volume 5. 197. Thomas Patrick Hughes, Dictionary of Islam, p.213, ‘Inspiration’. 198. Maulana Muhammad Ali, The Religion of Islam, Ch IV: Revealed Books, p.202_206 199. Br. Mohamed Shereef de Alwis, Lesson 1 Part 2: “Scriptures of Other Faiths”, Intensive Da’wah Training Programme-Stage I, Islamic Guidance Center, Jubail 200. AY Ali, noe 84 to 2:78, Al Alim 201. Maulana Abu’l Ala Mawdudi, Towards Understanding Islam, Tr. By KHURSHID AHMAD 202. http://www.ummah.net/forum/showthread.php?t=32233 203. Ibn Kathir, Tafsir, p.248_252 204. A Y Ali, note 2789 to 22:17 205. Ibn Kathir, Tafsir to 22:40, , p.586, Volume 6 178

CHAPTER V ONENESS OF GOD, WORLD RELIGIONS AND THEIR SACRED WRITINGS 5.1. Meaning of Belief in Oneness of Allah / Tawheed / Monotheism 5.1.1 Oneness in the Being of Allah 5.1.2 Oneness in the Worship of Allah 5.1.3 Oneness in the Attributes of Allah 5.2 The Three Major Monotheistic Religions of the World- Judaism, Christianity and Islam 5.3 Categorisation of Major world Religions 5.3.1 On the Basis of Beliefs 5.3.2 On the Basis of Perceiving God 5.3.3 On the Basis of Major World Religions [by Dr. Zakir Naik (IRF)] 5.4 All True Religions Ultimately Believe in Monotheism 5.4.1 Types of Monotheism 5.4.2 Traces of Islam in other Religions 5.4.2.1 Judaism and Christianity 5.4.3 Concept of God in Major Religions 5.4.3.1 Concept of God in Judaism 5.4.3.2 Concept of God in Christianity 5.4.3.3 Other Nations (A) The Kapauku Papuans of West Guinea (B) The Religion of Dinka of Africa (C) The Zulus 5.4.3.4 Concept of God in Sikhism 5.4.3.5 Concept of God in Zoroastrianism 179

5.4.3.6 Concept of God in Hnduism (A) Avatars and Messengers in Hinduism (B) Are the Vedas a Revelation of God? (C) WhichProphet was sent to India? (D) The Common Elements between Hinduism and Islam (i) Life after death (ii) Concept of destiny ONENESS OF GOD, WORLD RELIGIONS AND THEIR SACRED WRITINGS (5.1) MEANING OF BELIEF IN ONENESS OF ALLAH / TAWHEED / MONOTHEISM: The root word of (Tawheed) oneness is (wahad), i.e., One. Tawheed (monotheism) has three aspects: (5.1.1) Oneness in the Being of Allah: The faith in the Oneness of Allah is to believe that Allah is Unique in His Being, Incomparable, and without any partners. He has no wife, nor children, nor does He have a mother or a father. He is not a part of any other being, nor is any other being a part of Him. The Jews call Uzair a son of Allah and the Christians call Christ the son of Allah. That is a saying from their mouths; (in this) they but imitate what the unbelievers of old used to say. Allah's curse be on them: how they are deluded away from the truth! [9:30] The pagans of Makkah designated angels as the daughters of Allah. Allah the Most High condemns their false belief, thus in the Glorious Qur’an: Yet they make the Jinns equals with Allah though Allah did create the Jinns; and they falsely having no knowledge attribute to Him sons and daughters. Praise and glory be to Him! (for He is) above what they attribute to Him!.[6:100] Some polytheists considered the creation of Allah, such as Angels, Jinns or some other mankind, to be merged in the Being of Allah, the Most High. This belief is called the belief of 180

merging in Allah, Hulul. Some polytheists considered Allah to be merged in everything of the Universe. This belief is called the faith of Oneness of creation, Wahdatul Wujood, everything is He. Yet they attribute to some of His servants a share with Him (in His godhead)! Truly is man a blasphemous ingrate avowed! [43:15] (5.1.2) Oneness in the Worship of Allah: is that every form of worship, should be for Allah only, and no one else should be joined in it. In the Holy Qur’an, the word worship, is used in two different meanings. Firstly it is used in the form of worship or devotion as narrated in the verse: Among His signs are the night and the day and the sun and moon. Do not prostrate yourselves before the sun or the moon; rather prostrate yourselves before Allah, Who created them both, if you truly are His worshippers. [41:37] In this sense, worship includes prayer and actions similar to as in prayer, such as standing with folded arms, bowing down, prostration, oblation and offering charity, sacrifice, circumambulation (as of Kaaba), retreat (I’tikaf) and supplication; Secondly, worship is used in the meaning of obedience and subordination, as narrated in the Holy Qur’an: Did I not enjoin you, O children of Adam, not to worship Shaitan, who is your open enemy, and that you should worship Me which is the Right Way? [36:60] It is in the sense that in all worldly dealimgs obedience and subordination, should be of the commands of Allah alone, and His Laws. Allah declares: Have you ever seen the one who has taken his own desires as his god? [25:43] Do not eat of that meat on which Allah's name has not been pronounced, since that is most surely a transgression. In fact the shaitans inspire their friends that they should argue with you, and if you obey them, most surely you will be considered a mushrik.[6:121] (5.1.3) Oneness in the Attributes of Allah: The Attributes of Allah are countless, and so many that it is not possible to enumerate them: Say: "If the ocean were ink (wherewith to write out) the words of my Lord sooner would the ocean be exhausted than would the words of my Lord even if we added another ocean like it for its aid."[18:109] And if all the trees on earth were pens and the Ocean (were ink) with seven Oceans behind it to add to its (supply) yet would not the Words of Allah be exhausted (in the writing): for Allah is Exalted in power Full of Wisdom. [31:27] In the above two verses ‘words’ mean Attributes of Allah. The Oneness of Allah in His Attributes comprises unalloyed belief in all His Attributes as described in the Qur’an and Hadith. 206 181

(5.2) THE THREE MAJOR MONOTHEISTIC RELIGIONS OF THE WORLD: JUDAISM CHRISTIANITY ISLAM God One god One god One god Central Prophet Moses Jesus Christ Muhammad Qur'an (God's Torah, Prophets, revelation to Bible (Old and Writings and the Muhammad) and Scripture New Talmud (oral tradition Hadith Testaments) and commentary) (Mohammed's sayings) 'Just war' can be Peace is always War should be fought as a last preferable, but war in fought only in War resort; tradition self-defense is self-defense, of non-violent considered obligatory. within strict limits. resistance. Divisions Modern movements Many theological Sunni-Shiite include Reform, divisions and schism based on Conservative, Modern schisms: Roman disagreement Orthodox and Catholic, Eastern over Mohammed's Reconstructionist. Orthodox, successors; broad numerous debate over Protestant Islam's role in 182

modern society; churches. little theological debate. Return to "pure" Debate over Islam; rejection of Ultra-Orthodox Jews literal meaning secular culture; reject the secular of the Bible; Fundamentalism efforts to bring world and live in strict efforts to bring religion into daily communities. religion into life and create an daily life. Islamic state. Holy City Jerusalem Jerusalem Mecca Highly respected A historical figure; as the second-last Jesus The Son of God. not the Messiah. prophet before Mohammed. Catholics and Orthodox have No hierarchy; No hierarchy; rabbis extensive prayers are led by Hierarchy are considered hierarchy; some imams (teachers) teachers. Protestant who have studied branches have the Qur'an. almost none. Images and statues allowed Images and statues in some Images and Idols & Images forbidden. denominations, statues forbidden. but not worshiped. Tithe: 10 Zakat: 2.5 percent Tzedakah: 10 percent Charity percent of of total wealth of income. income. each year. Conversion Da'wa: Muslims considered should share their No proselytizing; important in knowledge of Jews must turn away most traditions; Islam without Proselytizing would-be converts Catholic and trying to convert. three times to ensure Protestant Only God can their commitment. churches have bring someone to missionaries. Islam. Men and women Men and women are are generally equal in the eyes of Men and women treated the same God; traditional worship in the Koran, Judaism prescribes together. Some although women Women different roles for Protestant are oppressed in men and women. churches ordain many Muslim Orthodox men and women as cultures today. women worship priests. More... Men and women separately. worship separately. 183

House of Worship Synagogue Church Mosque Main Day of Worship Saturday Sunday Friday Must keep "kosher": No pork; other no pork or certain No dietary meat should be seafood; other meat Diet restrictions. prepared by the to be killed by kosher halal method. No method; separation alcohol. of meat and dairy. No immediate life Day of Day of Judgment, after death; life in the Judgment, followed by Life After Death "world to come" after followed by Heaven or Hell. the coming of the Heaven or Hell. Messiah. Numerous Mysticism Kabbalah mystical Sufism 207 traditions (5.3) CATEGORISATION OF MAJOR WORLD RELIGIONS: (5.3.1) On the Basis of Beliefs: Before going to describe the Muslim views about God, Human Beings and Other Religions, the following facts are to be kept in mind. Religion • Some of the religions stem from the teachings of the prophets, who were the chosen people of Allah. • Some religions, although originally stem from the teachings of the prophets, were later mixed with cultural traditions and superstitions etc. • Some religions are totally man-made. Believers in Religion • There are believers in one of the existing religions: Amongst them some are practicing and some are non-practicing. Non-Believers in Religion • Some believe that there is God but do not believe in any religion. 184

• Some believe that all the existing religions are man-made, they are not scientific and are merely cultural practices from old traditions of a nation. Those who follow them are backward and do not possess progressive minds. • Some also believe that the existing religions were taught by some wise men of their time. They directed people towards good by advising them to do what they thought appropriate. The preachers of each of the religions were wise people of their time, and they guided their people towards good with their own wisdom. Atheists • There are people, who are totally non-believers. They do not believe in any God at all. They feel proud of being called atheists and they are vehemently opposed to the idea of God and of following any of the religions. (5.3.2) On the Basis of Perceiving God: A person always thinks that what he has understood or believed is right, and he/she always tries to impose his/her beliefs and views on ohers. This is the human nature in general. However, to get to the truth, one has to be open-minded and apply logic and reasons to reach there. 208 As there are anomalies in Jewish and Christian religious teachings, and some of the earlier Rabbis and Priests were oppressors, many of the people in the West, generally, the Jews and Christians now do not believe in any God nor practice any religion. There are things in Christianity that one can not understand. Also, some in the West knowingly, and some un- knowingly makes the propaganda that Islam is a man-made religion and that its followers are fanatics and terrorists. The view of Islam in the Western countries is trained by the media's portrayal of Muslims as rebels, extremists and/or terrorists. In people's mind these strangely dressed people are only out to cause havoc and destruction, and war apeears to be their main goal. Therefore, the true picture of Islam and Muslims are never propagated in the West correctly. Also, the present Muslims are not Good Examples to others. Most of the Muslim countries have, in one way or another, become puppet Governments of the West. They are forgetting the religious values of ISLAM and therefore are suffering from poverty and humiliation. They even do not practice Islam fully, nor shoulder the responsibility of propagating Islam, the True Religion, the Only Religion (Way of life) acceptable to Allah (the one and Unique True God) to others. Islam has answers to all the questions that one can relate to including all the worldly affairs and also the spiritual affairs and the life hereafter, and the Western countries really need Islam to solve many of their problems. 209 Present Muslims do not believe in Trinity of the Christians.Jesus was not the LAST Messenger of Allah. He was sent to guide the lost sheep of Israel, the Bani-Israils, and he came to herald the Ingil (Gospel-which also means the Good News) or good news of coming of the Last and Great Messenger of Allah, Prophet Muhammad. 210 Here is the broader classification of Religions according to Brother Br. Mohamed Shereef De Alwis:211 185

HUMANIT Y THEISTIC ATHIESTIC MONOTHEISTIC POLYTHEISTI MATERIALISTIC C TRINITARIAN-1 in PHILOSOPHIC 3 UNITARIAN- 3 in 1 AGNOSTICS, ETC. ONENESS (Pure) (5.3.3) On the Basis of Major World Religions [by Dr. Zakir Naik (IRF)]: Religions of the world can be broadly categorized into Semitic religions and non-Semitic religions. Non-Semitic religions can be divided into Aryan Religions and non Aryan religions. SEMITIC RELIGIONS: are religions that originated from the Semites. According to the Bible, Prophet Noah (pbuh) had a son called Shem. The descendants of Shem are known as Semites. Therefore Semitic religions are the religions that originated among the Jews, Arabs, Assyrians, Phoenicians, etc. Major Semitic religions are Judaism, Christianity and Islam. All these religions are prophetic religions that believe in Divine Guidance sent through prophets of God. NON-SEMITIC RELIGIONS: are further subdivided into Aryan and non Aryan religions. ARYAN RELIGIONS: are the religions that originated among the Aryans, a powerful group of Indo-European speaking people that spread through Iran and Northern India in the first half of the second Millenium BC (2000 to 1500 BC). The Aryan Religions are further subdivided into Vedic and non-Vedic religions. VEDIC RELIGION: The Vedic Religion is given the misnomer of Hinduism or Brahminism. NON-VEDIC RELIGION: The non-Vedic Religions are Sikhism, Buddhism, Jainism, etc. Almost all Aryan Religions are non Prophetic religions. Zoroastrianism is an Aryan, non-Vedic religion, which is not associated with Hinduism. It claims to be a prophetic religion. NON-ARYAN RELIGIONS: The non-Aryan religions have diverse origins. Confucianism and Taoism are of Chinese origin while Shintoism is of Japanese origin. Many of these non Aryan religions do not have a concept of God. They are better referred to as ethical systems rather than as religions. 212 186

(5.4) ALL TRUE RELIGIONS ULTIMATELY BELIEVE IN MONOTHEISM: Monotheism (in Greek monon = single and Theos = God) is the belief in a single, universal, all-encompassing deity. (5.4.1) Types of Monotheism Various forms of monotheism exist, including: • Theism, a term that can refer to the belief in a 'personal' god, that is, a single god with a distinctive personality, rather than just a divine force. • Deism is a form of monotheism in which it is believed that one god exists. However, a deist rejects the idea that this god intervenes in the world. Hence any notion of special revelation is impossible, and the nature of god can only be known through reason and 187

observation from nature. A deist thus rejects the miraculous, and the claim to knowledge made for religious groups and texts. • Monistic Theism is the type of monotheism found in Hinduism. Such type of theism is different from the Semitic religions as it encompasses panentheism, monism, and at the same time includes the concept of a personal God as an universal, omnipotent supreme being. The other types of monotheism are qualified monism, the school of Ramanuja or Vishishtadvaita, which admits that the universe is part of God, or Narayana, a type of panentheism, but there is a plurality of souls within this supreme Being and Dvaita, which differs in that it is dualistic, as God is separate and not panentheistic. • Pantheism holds that the Universe itself is God. The existence of a transcendent supreme extraneous to nature is denied. Depending on how this is understood, such a view may be presented as tantamount to atheism, deism or theism. • Panentheism is a form of theism that holds that god contains, but is not identical to, the Universe. The universe is part of god. This is also the view of Process theology and also Hinduism. According to Hinduism, the universe is part of God but God is not equal to the universe but in fact transcends it as well. However, unlike Process theology, God in Hinduism is omnipotent. Panentheism is thought of as "God is within the universe as the soul is within the body". By some accounts, panentheism is also called monistic theism in Hinduism. But since process theology is also included in the broad definition of panenetheism and does not accept an omnipotent supreme being, the Hindu view would be called monistic theism. • Substance monotheism, found e.g. in some indigenous African religions, holds that the many gods are different forms of a single underlying substance, and that this underlying substance is God. This view has some similarities to the Christian trinitarian view of three persons sharing one nature. In contrast, see Polytheism, which holds that there are many gods. Dualism teaches that there are two independent divine beings or eternal principles, the one good, and the other evil, as set forth especially in early Zoroastrianism (modern Zoroastrianism is strictly monotheistic), but more fully in its later offshoots in Gnostic systems, such as Manichaeism. Most monotheists would say that, by definition, monotheism is incompatible with polytheism. However, devotees within polytheistic religious traditions often behave like monotheists. This is because a belief in multiple gods does not imply the worship of multiple gods. Historically, many polytheists believe in the existence of many gods, but worship only one, considered by the devotee to be the supreme God. This practice is termed henotheism. There are also monotheistic theologies in Hinduism which teach that the many forms of God, i.e., Vishnu, Shiva, or Devi merely represent aspects of a single or underlying divine power or Brahman (see articles on Nirguna Brahman and Saguna Brahman). Some claim that Hinduism never taught polytheism and such claim can be correct as one view of Hinduism, the Smarta view, is an inclusive monotheistic view of monotheism, as discussed later. This Smarta view dominates the view of Hinduism in the West and has confused all Hindus to be seemingly polytheistic. The Smarta division is the only branch of Hinduism that strictly follows this view. After all, Swami Vivekananda, a follower of Ramakrishna, along with many others, who brought Hindu beliefs to the West, were all Smarta in belief. Only a Smartist would have no problem worshiping Shiva or Vishnu together as he views the different aspects of God as leading to the same One God. God, thus, according to Smarta theology, can have a multitude of aspects and thus, according to this belief, they hold that Vishnu and Shiva are one and the same God. The Smarta theologians 188

have cited many references to support this view. For example, they interpret verses in both the Shri Rudram, the most sacred mantra in Shaivism, and the Vishnu sahasranama, one of the most sacred prayers in Vaishnavism, to show this belief. By contrast, a Vaishnavite considers Vishnu as the only one true God, worthy of worship and other worship of other forms as subordinate or simply incorrect. Monotheism can be divided into different types on the basis of its attitude to polytheism: inclusive monotheism claims that all polytheistic deities are just different names for the single monotheistic God; Smartism, a denomination of Hinduism, follows this belief, holds that God is one but has different aspects and can be called by different names, and its beliefs dominate the view of Hinduism in the West; exclusive monotheism, on the other hand, claims that these deities are false and distinct from the monotheistic God, either invented, demonic, or simply incorrect, as Vaishnavism, a denomination of Hinduism, regards the worship of anyone other than Vishnu. Exclusive monotheism is a well-known tenet in the beliefs of the Abrahamic religions. Worship of a single god within a pantheon and the abolition of all others may be monotheism, as in the case of the Aten cult in the reign of the Egyptian pharaoh Akhenaten, under the wifely influence of the Eastern-originating Nefertiti. Iconoclasm during this pharaoh's rule is considered a chief origin for Abrahamic destruction of idols, holding no other God before the preferred deity (dually and subtly acknowledging the existence of the other gods, but only as foes to be destroyed for their drawing of attention away from the primary diety). The monotheism as inherited by the Israelites in Exodus by Moses, is supposed, by those who hold that the Israelites are the Hyksos, to be an inheritance of Akhenaten's religious policies, as the Jews were formerly polytheist like the Egyptians. Other issues like the Divine Right of Kings also stems from pharaohic laws on the ruler being the demigod or representative of the Creator on Earth. The massive tombs in the Egyptian pyramids which aligned with astronomical observations, exemplifies this relationship between the pharaoh and the heavens and was subsequently adopted by Christian royalty by claiming a direct lease on ruling by God. Zoroastrianism is considered by some to be the earliest monotheistic belief to have evolved among humanity, though some derivatives of it are not fully so, as the chief god in derivatives such as Zurvanism is not the sole creator. It has been theorised that Judaism was influenced by Zoroastrianism, mostly during the babylonian captivity, after which the many parts of the Old Testament were written and redacted. Earlier Judaism is assumed to have claimed only that YHVH was a tribal deity (possibly related to Yaw) who was the patron of the descendants of Abraham, or that there were many gods but that theirs was the most powerful. This view is not compatible with the modern self-understanding of the Abrahamic religions - Judaism, Christianity, Islam - which traditionally insist that exclusive monotheism is the original religion of all mankind, all other gods being viewed as idols and creatures which wrongly came to be worshipped as deities. Several professors of archaeology have made the controversial claim that many stories in the Hebrew Bible / Old Testament, including important chronicles about Moses, Solomon, and others, were actually initially developed by scribes employed by King Josiah (7th century BC) to rationalize monotheistic belief in YHVH. This theory observes that the neighbouring countries, such as Egypt, Persia etc, although keeping written records, have no writings about the stories of the Bible or its main characters before 650 BC. Such claims are detailed in Who Were the 189

Early Israelites? by William G. Dever, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., Grand Rapids, MI (2003). Another such book is The Bible Unearthed by Neil A. Silberman and colleagues, Simon and Schuster, New York (2001). Although Christians believe in one God, they profess that this god is, in fact, three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit (collectively called the Trinity), Christians insist that their faith is monotheistic. Typically, Christian theology holds that these three persons are not independent but are 'homoousios', that is sharing the same essence or substance of divinity. However, some have suggested that Christianity is a form of Tritheism. Moreover, some minority sects of Christianity, such as the Jehovah's Witnesses, deny the idea of Trinity, while others, such as some sects of Mormonism, worship only one god, but are open to the existence of others. Rastafarians, like many Christians, hold that God is both a unity and a trinity, in their case God being Haile Selassie. Rastas see themselves, and possibly all individuals, as the Holy Spirit element of the Trinity, with Haile Selassie as an incarnation of both God the Father and God the Son. Haile Selassie is also seen as the head, and the Rastafarians as the body, of God. Islam and The Bahá'í Faith have a simple expression of monotheism. The (salaat) in Islam and the obligatory prayers in the Bahá'í Faith, for example, involve explicit monotheistic testimony. Both religions declare the "Unity of God" as their primary teaching. Both Islam and Bahá'í consider Christianity's Trinity as a distortion of Jesus's original teaching after the fact, and the Bahá'ís see earlier non-monotheisms as less mature versions of truth. The Bahá'í Faith also accepts the authenticity of the founders of faiths with monotheism such as Gaudiya Vaishnavism, which focuses on worship of Krishna as God or even what are sometimes interpreted as atheistic teachings, such as Buddhism. In Hinduism, views are broad and range from monism, dualism, pantheism, panentheism, alternatively called monistic theism by some scholars, and strict monotheism, but are not polytheistic as outsiders perceive the religion to be. Hinduism has often been confused to be polytheistic as many of Hinduism's adherents, i.e., Smartas, who follow Advaita philsophy, are monists, and view multiple manifestations of the one God or source of being. Hindu monists see one unity, with the personal Gods, different aspects of only One Supreme Being, like a single beam of light separated into colours by a prism, and are valid to worship. Some of the Hindu aspects of God include Devi, Vishnu, Ganesh, and Siva. It is the Smarta view that dominates the view of Hinduism in the West. After all, Swami Vivekananda, a follower of Ramakrishna, along with many others, who brought Hindu beliefs to the West, were all Smarta in belief. Other denominations of Hinduism, as described later, don't hold this belief strictly and more closely adhere to a Western perception of what a monotheistic faith is. Additionally, like Judaeo-Christian religions which believe in angels, Hindus also believe in less powerful entities, such as devas. Contemporary Hinduism is now divided into four major divisions, Vaishnavism, Shaivism, Shaktism, and Smartism. Just as Jews, Christians, and Muslims all believe in one God but differ in their conceptions of him, Hindus all believe in one God but differ in their conceptions. The two primary form of differences are between the two monotheistic religions of Vaishnavism which conceives God as Vishnu and Shaivism, which conceives God as Shiva. Other aspects of God are in fact aspects of Vishnu or Shiva; see Smartism for more information. Only a Smartist 190

would have no problem worshiping Shiva or Vishnu together as he views the different aspects of God as leading to the same One God. It is the Smarta view that dominates the view of Hinduism in the West. By contrast, a Vaishnavite considers Vishnu as the one true God, worthy of worship and other forms as subordinate. See for example, an illustration of the Vaishnavite view of Vishnu as the one true God, at this link. Accordingly, many Vaishnavites, for example, believe that only Vishnu can grant the ultimate aim for mankind, moksha. See for example, this link. Similarly, many Shaivites also hold similar beliefs, as illustrated at at this link and at this link. However, even Vaisnavites, like other Hindus, have tolerance for other beliefs because Lord Krishna, avatar of Vishnu, said so in the Gita. Few views illustrate this view of tolerance: Krishna said: "Whatever deity or form a devotee worships, I make his faith steady. However, their wishes are only granted by Me." (Gita: 7:21-22) Another quote in the Gita states: "O Arjuna, even those devotees who worship other lesser deities (e.g., Devas, for example) with faith, they also worship Me, but in an improper way because I am the Supreme Being. I alone am the enjoyer of all sacrificial services (Seva, Yajna) and Lord of the universe." (Gita: 9:23) Even a Vedic verse illustrates this theme of tolerance. The Vedas are revered in Hinduism, regardless of denomination. For example, a well-known Rig Vedic hymn stemming from Hinduism states that "Truth is One, though the sages know it variously." This is in contrast with some beliefs of other religious traditions, where one must believe in God being one aspect and to totally reject or disdain other beliefs. Tao is The Ultimate that cannot be defined in human language,with nothingness as its nature and contains other deities. Unlike the Middle East monotheism, The Tao has no personal attributes such as holiness, love and righteousness. This makes Taoism exempts from the problems of theodicy. 213 (5.4.2) Traces of Islam in other Religions: Mankind did not evolve gradually from polytheism to monotheism. Man was originally a monotheist who fell gradually into polytheism, and has to be reminded periodically of the original doctrine of Unity. History consists of a series of cycles of decay and rejuvenation. The Islamic conception of history is one of a series of cycles of prophecy, each cycle followed by a gradual decay leading to a new cycle or phase. Islam believes itself to be the third great manifestation of the Abrahamic tradition, after Judaism and Christianity. Now, as Christians know so well, trinity is a reflection of unity so that this third manifestation of the Abrahamic tradition is in a sense a return to the original Unity, to the 'religion of Abraham'. As Judaism represents the law or the exoteric aspect of this tradition and Christianity the way or the esoteric aspect of it, so does Islam integrate the tradition in its original unity by containing both a law [shari'ah] and a way [tariqah]. It can be said that essentially Judaism is based on the fear of God; Christianity is based on the love of God; Islam is based on the knowledge of God. 191

If Islam is the 'primordial religion' it is also the 'last religion' and in fact it is through this particularity that it becomes not just religion as such but a particular religion to be accepted and followed. By re-affirming what all the prophets have asserted over the ages, Islam emphasized its universal character as the primordial religion and by considering itself as the last religion [a claim no other orthodox religion before Islam ever made], Islam attained its particularity which distinguishes it and gives it its specific form as a religion. No religion can in fact be the universal religion as such. It is so inwardly, but outwardly it must be a particular religion which induces men to accept and follow it through specific forms and rites. Man, living in the world of the particular, must begin from the particular in order to reach the universal. The beauty of revealed religion is precisely that although externally it is a form, it is not a closed form but one which opens inwardly towards the Infinite. 214 All major religions that believe in the existence of God ultimately, on a higher level, believe in one supreme God. All religious scriptures actually speak about monotheism, ie, belief in only one true God. People change scriptures for their benefit: By the passage of time most of the religious scriptures have been distorted and changed by people for their own benefits. The creed of many religions has thus been distorted and changed by people for their own benefits. The creed of many religions has thus been distorted from monotheism to pantheism or polytheism. The Holy Qur’an says: Then woe to those who write the Book with their own hands and then say: "This is from Allah" to traffic with it for a miserable price! Woe to them for what their hands do write and for the gain they make thereby. Islam believes in ‘Tawheed’ which is not merely monotheism, ie. belief in one unique God, but much more. Shirk: literally means sharing or associating partners. In Islamic terms it means associating partners with Allah and is equivalent to idolatry. Allah forgiveth not that partners should be set up with him; but He forgiveth anything else to whom He pleaseth; to set up partners with Allah is to devise a sin most heinous indeed. [4:48] Allah forgiveth not (the sin of) joining other gods with Him: but He forgiveth whom He pleaseth other sins than this: one who joins other gods with Allah hath strayed far far away (from the right).. [4: 116] Shirk leads to hell fire: They do blaspheme who say: "Allah is Christ the son of Mary." But said Christ: "O children of Israel! worship Allah my Lord and your Lord." Whoever joins other gods with Allah Allah will forbid him the garden and the Fire will be his abode. There will for the wrong-doers be no one to help. [5:72] 192

Say: "O people of the Book! come to common terms as between us and you: that we worship none but Allah; that we associate no partners with Him; that we erect not from among ourselves Lords and patrons other than Allah." If then they turn back say: "Bear witness that we (at least) are Muslims (bowing to Allah's will)." [3:64] Revile not ye those whom they call upon besides Allah lest they out of spite revile Allah in their ignorance. Thus have We made alluring to each people its own doings. In the end will they return to their Lord and We shall then tell them the truth of all that they did. [6:108] O men! Here is a parable set forth! Listen to it! Those on whom besides Allah ye call cannot create (even) a fly if they all met together for the purpose! And if the fly should snatch away anything from them they would have no power to release it from the fly: feeble are those who petition and those whom they petition! [22:73] And all Praise be to Allah, the Lord, creator, Cherisher and Sustainer of all the Worlds! 215 That Islam is the true religion can be identified by the meaning of the word “Islam” itself. Basically, the word “Islam” is an Arabic word that denotes submission and obedience. As a religion, Islam has two meanings: general and specific. Islam in general refers to the religion which God revealed to all prophets: The worship of God alone (Monotheism) and the avoidance of Paganism. This explains why in the Qur’an all prophets call themselves Muslims. However, the word Islam also specifically refers to the religion that was revealed to Prophet Muhammad SAW. None of the previous religions were given specifically their name by God, except for this religion-Islam. Islam was not named after a person or a group of people, nor was it decided upon by later generations of humans. Indeed the name Islam was given by God Himself as it clearly mentioned in the Qur’an in many verses (e.g. “Indeed religion with Allah is Islam” [3:19]). On the other hand, Christianity was named after Jesus Christ (by its followers), and Judaism after the tribe of Judah. However it is not mentioned anywhere in the Bible that the religion of the followers of Prophets Isaac and Moses and their descendants is called Judaism, or that the religion of the followers of Christ is called Christianity. (Both the names ‘Jesus’ and ‘Christ’ are derived from Hebrew words, through Greek and Latin. Jesus is the English equivalent and Latin form of the Greek “Iesous” which in Hebrew is ‘Yeshua’. ‘Christos’ is a Greek translation of the Hebrew ‘messiah’, which means ‘the anointed’.) In other words, the names ‘Judaism’ and ‘Christianity’ had no divine origin or approval. It was not until long after Jesus’ departure that the name Christianity was given to the religion of those claiming to be his followers. The same applies for ‘Buddhism’, which was named after Gautama Buddha, Confucianism after Confucius, Marxism after Karl Marx, and Hinduism after the Hindus and so on. All the revealed books call to the worship of God alone and avoidance of worshipping other than Him or others besides Him. However, due to the difference between nations in time and locations, there was some difference in the canonical teachings (Law) between scriptures according to the wisdom of God. 193

Muslims believe in the previous books mentioned in the Qur’an: the books of Abraham (Suhuf), the Scripture of Moses (Torah), the Psalm of David (Zaboor) and the Gospel of Prophet Jesus (Al-Injeel). However long before the advent of Prophet Muhammad (SAW), they had all been lost or distorted by later generations over the centuries. They were polluted with myths, superstitions, idolatry and irrational philosophical beliefs, carrying contradicting thoughts. Hence the original scriptures are no longer in existence. A brief historical review, for example, of the evolution of Christianity from pure Monotheism into tritheism within the first 400 years after Jesus’ departure clearly illustrates this process of degeneration. (5.4.2.1) Judaism and Christianity: Mention of Prophet Muhammad’s coming can be found in the Books of the Bible in spite of changes which have taken place in their texts (See Deut 18:18, 18:15; Isaiah 29:12; Songs of Solomon 5:26, John 16:12_14 & John 14:15_16) 216 [We have already studied in previous chapters in detail] The term "Islam" and its equivalents, "Shalom" and Shlama," were known to the Jews and Christians of Mecca and Medina when Prophet Muhammad appeared to perfect and universalize the religion of Islam. That "shalom" and the Syriac "Shlama," as well as the Arabic "Salam" and "Islam," are of one and the same Semitic root, "Shalam," and mean the same thing, is an admitted truth by all the scholars of the Semitic languages. The verb "shalam" signifies "to submit, resign oneself to," and then "to make peace;" and consequently "to be safe, sound, and tranquil." No religious system in the world has ever been qualified with a better and more comprehensive, dignified, and sublime name than that of "Islam.' The true Religion of the True God cannot be named after the name of any of His worshipers, and much less after the name of a people or country. It is, indeed, this sanctity and the inviolability of the word "Islam" that strikes its opponents with awe, fear, and reverence even when the Muslims are weak and unhappy. It is the name and title of a religion that teaches and commands an absolute submission and resignation of will and self to the Supreme Being, and then to obtain peace and tranquility in mind and at home, no matter what tribulations or passing misfortunes may threaten us that fills its opponents with awe. As the Qur'an in chap. ii expressly reminds us that Abraham and his sons and grandsons were the followers of Islam; that they were neither Jews nor Christians; that they preached and propagated the worship and the faith in the one God to all the peoples among whom they sojourned or dwelt, we must admit that not only the Jews, but several other nations that descended from the other sons of Abraham and many tribes converted and absorbed by them, were also Muslims; that is to say, believers in Allah and resigned to His Will. There were the people of Esau, the Edomites, the Midianites, and numerous other peoples living in Arabia, who knew God and worshipped Him like the Israelites. These peoples had also their own prophets and religious guides like Job, Jethro (the father-in-law of the Prophet Moses), Balaam, Hud, and many others. But they, like the Jews, had taken to idolatry until it was totally eradicated by the Prince of the prophets. The Jews, in about the fifth century B.C., produced the greater portion of their canonical books of the Old Testament, when the memories of the conquest of the land of Canaan by Joshua, the temple and Jerusalem of Solomon, were events buried in the past epochs of their wondrous history. A nationalistic and Judaistic spirit of solicitude and seclusion 194

reigned among the small remnant of Israel; the belief in the coming of a great Savior to restore the lost throne and crown of David was regnant, and the old meaning of "Shalom" as the name of the religion of Abraham and common to all the different peoples descended from him was no longer remembered. It is from this point of view that I regard this passage of Jeremiah as one of the golden texts in the Hebrew sacred writ. In the Book of Deuteronomy (xiii. 1- 5) ["If there arises among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams, and he gives you a sign or a wonder; And the sign or the wonder comes to pass, of which he spoke to you, saying: ‘Let us go after other gods which you have not known, and let us serve them’; You shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams…] God the Almighty gives some instructions concerning the false prophets who may prophesy in the Name of the Lord and in such an insidious way that they could mislead His people. And in Deuteronomy (xviii. 20 – 22) [" … When a Prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the one thing does not happen. Or come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord has not spoken. The Prophet has spoken it presumptuously. You shall not be afraid of him], he tells us that the best way to find out the impostor's perfidy was to anticipate the fulfillment of his predictions, and then to put him to death when his fraud was divulged. But, as is well known, the ignorant cannot well distinguish between the genuine prophet and the imposter, just as much as they to-day are unable to definitely discover which of the two, a Roman Catholic priest or a Calvinist minister, is a genuine follower of Jesus Christ! A false prophet would also foretell events, work wonders, and do other religious things similar - at least in appearance - to those performed by a true one. The competition between the Prophet Moses and the magicians of Egypt is an apt illustration of this statement. Thus it is Jeremiah who gives us the best way of testing the veracity, the genuineness, of a prophet, and that way is the sign of Islam. Please read the whole chapter xxviii. of Jeremiah, and then ponder and reflect on the ninth verse: - "The prophet which foretells the Islam (Shalom), at the coming of the word of the Prophet, that prophet will be recognized to have been sent by God in truth" (Jer. xxviii. 9). The Prophet Jeremiah is the only prophet before Christ who uses the word Shalom in the sense of a religion. He is the only prophet who uses this word with the object of setting or proving the veracity of a messenger of God. This translation is strictly literal. The original verb naba, usually translated as "to foretell" or "to prophesy," and the noun nabi, "a prophet" has given the impression that a prophet is a person who foretells the future or past events by the aid of divine revelation. This definition is only partially true. The complete definition of the word "Prophet" must be: "one who receives oracles or messages from God, and delivers them faithfully to the person or people intended." It is evident that a divine message need not necessarily be a foretelling of past and future events. In the same way verb "prophesy" does not necessarily mean to reveal the past or future occurrences, but rather to preach or promulgate the message from God. Consequently to prophesy is to deliver and utter a new oracle, its nature or character being quite immaterial. To read the words of a prophet would be to prophesy no more than would a prophet deliver an oracle when making a discourse or public speech of his own accord. In the Qur'an God orders His beloved worshiper Prophet Muhammad to declare: "Say: 'I am only human like you, revealed to me is that your God is One God....'" Ch. 18:110, so that we may be careful not to attribute to any of the prophets the quality of knowing and saying everything through the 195

Revelation. The Divine Revelations used to come at intervals, while the prophets in their personal intercourse and knowledge might be liable to mistakes and errors. A prophet is not appointed by God to teach humanity physics, mathematics, or any other positive science. It would be very unjust on our part to blame a prophet for a slip of language or a mistake committed as a man. A prophet, therefore, is the subject of test and examination only when he officially and formally delivers the Message he has received from his Lord. His private affairs, his family concerns, and his personal attainments do not concern us so much as his mission and office. In order to find out whether a prophet is genuine or an impostor, it is not fair to give a verdict against his prophetical character because he is reported to have been a little harsh or rude to his mother or because he believed in the literal inspiration and the Mosaic authorship of the Pentateuch. While making this observation, I have in mind the case of Jesus Christ, and many others in the history of Israel on other points. It is mala fides and ill will to accuse prophets of sensuality, rudeness, ignorance in sciences, and of other personal frailties. They were men like ourselves and subject to the same natural inclinations and passions. They were protected from mortal sins and from the perversion of the message they had to hand further. We must be extremely careful not to exalt the prophets of God too high in our imagination, lest God be displeased with us. They are all His creatures and worshipers; they accomplished their work and returned to Him. The moment we forget God and concentrate our love and admiration upon the person of any of the messengers of God we are in danger of falling into the sin of polytheism. Having so far explained the nature and the signification of the prophet and the prophecy, I shall now endeavor to prove that no prophet could be genuine unless, as Jeremiah expressly says, he preaches and propagates the religion of Islam. In order to understand better the sense and the importance of the passage under our contemplation we should just cast a glance over the preceding verse where Jeremiah tells his antagonist Prophet Hananiah: "The prophets that have been before me and before thee from old (times) prophesied against many lands, and against great kingdoms, concerning war and evil and pestilence." Then he proceeds: - "The prophet that prophesies concerning Islam as soon as the word of the prophet comes, that prophet is known to have been sent by the Lord in truth." To predict "peace" by Jeremiah when he had all the time been predicting the great national disaster - either by the submission of the King Sidaqia to the Chaldean sovereign or by his resistance - would not only involve his failure, not to talk of his being a success in proving his veracity, but also it would make him even ridiculous. For, in either case, his presumed "peace" would mean no peace at all. On the contrary, if the Jews resisted the Chaldean army, it meant a complete national ruin, and if they submitted, an unconditional servitude. It is evident, therefore, that Jeremiah uses the term "Shalom" in the sense of a tangible, concrete, and real religious system which Islam comprises. But there is still one thing more worthy of our notice, and that thing is this. If the religion of Islam is not the standard and the measure by which to test the veracity of a prophet or 196

minister of God, then there is no other criterion to answer that purpose. A miracle is not always a sufficient proof, for the sorcerers also work wonders. The fulfillment of a prophecy or prediction, too, is not in itself a sufficient proof; for just as one holy Spirit reveals a future event to a true prophet, so does sometimes an evil spirit the same to an imposter. Hence it is clear that the prophet who "prophesies concerning Shalom - Islam - as being the name of Faith and path of life, as soon as he receives a message from God he will be known to have been sent by Him." As argued in the preceding paragraph, it should be noted that neither the fulfillment of a prediction nor the working of a miracle was enough to prove the genuine character of a prophet; that the loyalty and strict attachment to the religion is the best and the decisive proof for the purpose; that "Shalom" was used to express the religion of peace. Once again we repeat the same assertion that Shalom is no other than Islam. And we demand from those who would object to this interpretation to produce an Arabic word besides Islam and Salam as the equivalent of the Shalom, and also to find for us another word in Hebrew besides Shalom that would convey and express the same meaning as Islam. It is impossible to produce another such an equivalent. Therefore we are forced to admit that Shalom is the same as "salam" or "peace" in the abstract, and "Islam" as a religion and faith in the concrete. 217 197

(5.4.3) CONCEPT OF GOD IN MAJOR RELIGIONS: Religion according to the Oxford dictionary means “belief in a superhuman controlling power especially in a personal God or gods entitled to obedience and worship”. A common feature in all major religions is the belief in a Universal God or Supreme Divine authority that is Omnipotent and Omniscient. Followers of all major religions believe that the God they worship is the same God for them as well as for others. Thus religion is an integral part of human existence. The Glorious Qur’an says in the following verse: “Say: ‘O People of the Book! Come to common terms as between us and you: That we worship none but Allah; That we associate no partners with him; that we associate no partners with him; that we erect not, from among ourselves, Lords and patrons other than Allah’. If then they turn back, Say ye: ‘Bear witness that we (at least) are Muslims (bowing to Allah’s Will)”. [Qur’an 3:64] The psychological constitution of man is such that he accepts the existence of the Creator, unless he has been conditioned to believe in the contrary. In other words, belief in God requires no condition, while rejection of God does. (5.4.3.1) Concept of God in Judaism: Judaism is one of the major Semitic religions. Its followers are known as Jews and they believe in the prophetic mission of Prophet Moses (pbuh). i) The following verse from the Deuteronomy contains an exhortation from Moses (pbuh) “Shama Israelu Adonai Ila Hayno Adna Ikhad” It is a Hebrew quotation which means: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord” [The Bible, Deut 6:4] ii) Consider the following verses from the Book of Isaiah: “I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no saviour”. [The Bible, Isaiah 43:11] iii) I am lord, and there is none else. There is no God besides me.” [The Bible, Isaiah 45:5] iv) “I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me.” [The Bible, Isaiah 46:9] v) Judaism condemns idol worship in the following verses: “Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth bebeath, or that is in 198

the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor see them; for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God...” [The Bible, Exodus 20:3_5] vi) A similar message is repeated in the book of Deutoronomy: [The Bible, Deut 5:7_9] (5.4.3.2) Concept of God in Christianity: Christianity is a Semitic religion, which claims to have nearly two billion adherents all over the world. Christianity owes it name to Jesus Christ (peace be on him). Jesus (pbuh) is also a revered figure in Islam. Islam is the only non-Christian Faith that prescribes faith in Jesus (pbuh): The major difference between Islam and Christianity is the Christians’ insistence on the supposed divinity of Christ. A study of the Christian scriptures reveals that Jesus (pbuh) never claimed divinity. In fact there is not a single unequivocal statement in the entire Bible where Jesus (pbuh) himself says, “I am God” or where he says, “worship me”. In fact the Bible contains statements attributed to Jesus (pbuh) in which he preached quite the contrary: “My Father is Greater than I” (John 14:28) “My Father is Greater than all” (John 10:29) “...I cast out devils by the spirit of God...” (Mathew 12:28) “...with the finger of God cast out devils....” (Luke 11:20) “I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge; and my judgement is just; because I seek not my own will, but the will of the Father, which hath sent me.” The mission of Jesus Christ (pbuh) - he came to fulfill the Law: Jesus (pbuh) never claimed divinity for himself. He clearly announced the nature of his mission. Jesus (pbuh) was sent by God to confirm the previous Judaic law. This is clearly evident in the following statements attributed to Jesus (pbuh) in the Gospel of Mathew: “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the Prophets; I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.“Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least 199

commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the Kingdom of heaven; but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven. [The Bible Mathew 5: 17_20] God sent Jesus (pbuh): The Bible mentions the prophetic nature of Jesus’ mission in the following verses: “...and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which has sent me. (The Bible, John 14:24) “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou has sent.” (The Bible, John 17:3) Jesus refuted even a remote suggestion of his divinity. Consider the following incident mentioned in the Bible: “And, behold, one came and said unto him, ‘Good master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?’ And he said unto him, ‘Why callest thou me good? There is none good but one, that is, God; but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.’” [The Bible, Mathew 5: 17_20] The above statements from the Bible refute the Christian dogma of divinity of Jesus and of salvation through the sacrifice of Jesus (pbuh). Jesus (pbuh) exhorts keeping the commandments as the means to achieve salvation. Jesus (pbuh) of Nazareth- a man approved of God: The following statement from the Bible supports the Islamic belief that Jesus (pbuh) was a prophet of God. “Ye men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, A man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know.” The First Commandment is that God is One: 200

The Bible does not support the Christian belief in trinity at all. One of the scribes once asked Jesus (pbuh) as to which was the first commandment of all, to which Jesus (pbuh) merely repeated what Moses (pbuh) had said, namely: “Shama Israelu Adonai Ila Hayno Adna Ikhat”. (Hear O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord” (Mark 12:29) 218 There is no nation known to history like the people of Israel, which during a period of less than four hundred years, was infested with myriads of false prophets, not to mention the swarms of sorcerers, soothsayers and all sorts of witchcrafts and magicians. The false prophets were of two kinds: those who professed the religion and the Torah (Law) of Yahweh and pretended to prophesy in His Name, and those who under the patronage of an idolater Israelite monarch prophesied in the name of Baal or other deities of the neighboring heathen peoples. Belonging to the former category there were several impostors as contemporaries with the true prophets like Mikha (Micah) and Jeremiah, and to the latter there were those who gave much trouble to Elijah, and caused the massacres of the true prophets and believers during the reign of Ahab and his wife Jezebel. Most dangerous of all to the cause of true faith and religion were the pseudo-prophets, who conducted the divine services in the temple as well as in the Misphas and pretended to deliver the oracles of God to the people. No prophet, perhaps, received at the hands of these impostors more of persecution and hardships than the Prophet Jeremiah. 219 (5.4.3.3) Other Nations: It is an Islamic viewpoint that every nation was sent a Messenger for their guidance. The important matter was the concept of Tawheed i.e., in oneness of Allah. The secondary matter was Shariah which kept changing from tribe to tribe and nation to nation. Allah, the most high, alone knows what is good for His creation. As it is mentioned in the Qur'an: And for every Ummah (a community or a nation), there is a Messenger; when their Messenger comes, the matter will be judged between them with justice, and they will not be wronged. (Qur'an 10:47) And verily, We have sent among every Ummah (community, nation) a Messenger (proclaiming): "Worship Allah (Alone), and avoid (or keep away from) Taghut (all false deities, etc. i.e., do not worship Taghut besides Allah)." Then of them were some whom Allah guided and of them were some upon whom the straying was justified. So travel through the land and see what was the end of those who denied (the truth). (Qur'an 16:36) Some of these Messengers are mentioned in the Qur'an by Allah and some of them are not as the Qur'an says: And, indeed We have sent Messengers before you (O Muhammad(P)); of some of them We have related to you their story and of some We have not related to you their story, and it was not given to any Messenger that he should bring a sign except by the Leave of Allah. So, when comes the Commandment of Allah, the matter will be decided with truth, and the followers of falsehood will then be lost. (Qur'an 40:78) 201

So, we decided to have a look at the issue of Messengers sent to various tribes and nations and taking the advice of the Qur'an So travel through the land and see what was the end of those who denied (the truth). As it was mentioned before the Islamic belief is that every nation on the earth was sent a Prophet for their guidance. As the time passed by corruption was introduced in the religion and instead of worshopping one true God, false dieties were worshipped along with it. The best example would be of Arabia before the advent of Prophet Muhammad (P). They worshipped idols like al-Uzza along with Allah. The material below is an attempt to show that how different tribes in different parts of the world had Monotheism, i.e., worship of one true God. But along the true God some subservient gods are also worshipped in some cases. (A) THE KAPAUKU PAPUANS OF WEST GUINEA The material is taken from a book called The Kapauku Papuans Of West Guinea by Leopold Pospisil. It is a case study of Stone-Age Kapauku tribe [p. 96] who led their aboriginal lives undisturbed by the spreading western civilization until 1938. The Kapauku Papuans are mountain people who belong to one of the several tribes whose members inhabit the central highlands of western New Guinea. Their country, most of which lies 1500m above sea level, is composed of rugged mountain chains and deep valleys. The Kapauku have an interesting world view. If we have to compare their religion versus Islam, the difference is very little. Regarding the Creator of the universe, the Kapauku believe: The universe itself and all existence was Ebijata, "designed by Ugatame", the Creator, Ugatame has a dual nature: He is supposed to be masculine and feminine at the same time, is referred to as the two entities, and is manifested to the people by the duality of the sun and the moon. To my enquiry whether Ugatame was the sun and the moon I received the answer a firm denial. The sun is conceived as the ball of fire, because it provides light and is warm; moon is believed to be a cold light like that of a firefly or the bacteria that infest rotting wood. Sun and moon are only manifestations of Ugatame who thus makes his presence known to the people. they definitely are not Creator himself. [p. 84] On the nature of Ugatame, the Creator: Ugatame is omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent, credited with the creation of all things and with having determined all events. Strangely enough, however, he is not believed to exist himself. When I questioned this contention, a Kapauku defended skillfully by a question: "But how can he exist when he created all the existence?" Obviously Ugatame is beyond existence, because to Kapauku all that exists must be of phenomenonal nature; one must be able to see, hear, smell, taste or feel it. But the Creator is beyond this phenomenal dimension, because of the simple reason that He created it. because He is so to speak, in the fifth dimension and is not of phenomenal nature, He is able to be omnipresent." How about good and evil? From this position the Kapauku "logicians" reason further that evil as well as good have been equally created and determined by Ugatame. Consequently, he can be neither good, nor bad, 202

but he must be indifferent. In the world created by Ugatame everything is real to the Kapauku. Even the evil spirits that belong to the creation of Ugatame are necessarily phenomenal and not supernatural. On the aspect of free will, Kapauku think: As a further extrapolations from above premises the Kapauku argue that because everything has been determined by Ugatame there can not be anything like a free will in man, and consequently there is no sin. After all, Creator created good as well as evil, so why should he punish a man for executing his own will? [p. 84-85] An interesting argument between a Kapauku and a Christian Missionary: "... a Kapauku is basically logical; he refuses to accept dogmas that either oppose clear empirical evidence or that contradict his commonsense or logic. On this subject an incident in the year 1955 was illuminating to me. A very old man from the mapia region, supported by his two sons, managed to come to see me in the Kamu valley. As he explained to me, his main purpose in coming was a problem he wanted to have clarified before he died. The problem concerned the white man. He could not understand how it is possible that the white man could be so clever and ingenious in designing such amazing contrivances as aeroplanes (which the old man could see flying over his valley), guns, medicines, clothes, and steel tools, and at the same time could be so primitive and illogical in his religion. "How can you think," he argued, "that a man can sin and can have a free will, and at the same time believe that your God is omnipotent, that He created the world and determined all the happenings? If He determined all that happens, and (therefore) also the bad deeds, how can a man be held responsible? Why, if he is omnipotent, did the Creator have to change himself into a man to allowhimself to be killed (crucified) when it would have been enough for him just to order men to behave?" The notion that anything can be absolutely bad or good was quite incomprehensible to him. Furthermore, the Christian notion of man resembling God in appearance appeared to him as utterly primitive (tabe-tabe, meaning stupid). [p. 85] It is quite surprising that a tribe from Stone Age could argue so rationally and logically with a Christian Missionary on the aspect of God. We Muslims also use the same arguments when it comes to the concept of God. And of course, when the Kapauku heard that the God became man they called the concept "primitive" and "tabe-tabe" (stupid). Well, "polemics" against Christianity started in the Stone Age itself, Muslims are not to be blamed for that!!! Lastly, now where is this Ugatame, their supreme god, residing? Waiting for the shock: In the view of Kamu Kapauku the world is a flat block of stone and soil that is surrounded with water and extends indefinitely into the depth thus providing no room for an underworld. Above the earth is a solid bowl of blue sky that limits the known world at the horizon. During the day the sun travels from east to west on the inside of the inverted bowl of sky and thus provides light. In the evening it slips under the edge of the bowl and travels above it from west to east. Because the bowl of the sky is solid, it shields the earth from sun's rays, thus bringing night, an empirical support for this theory according to my informants, is provided by the stars. They are thought to be perforations in the solid sky, through which the rays of the returning sun 203

penetrate at night. In the morning the sun emerges in the east under the canopy of the sky, thus making a new day. Beyond the solid bowl of sky exists another world that may be similar to ours, the abode of Ugatame, the Creator." [p. 84] 220 It is quite surprising that the Kapauku knew where their God is, the Pharaoh knew where the God of Moses (as) is as the surah below mentions Fir'aun (Pharaoh) said: "O chiefs! I know not that you have an ilah (a god) other than me, so kindle for me (a fire), O Haman, to bake (bricks out of) clay, and set up for me a Sarhan (a lofty tower, or palace, etc.) in order that I may look at (or look for) the Ilah (God) of Musa (Moses); and verily, I think that he [Musa (Moses)] is one of the liars." (Qur'an 28:38) But some of the Sufis and Christians do not know where the God is. They say that the God is everywhere, in us and in them. For Muslims it is an important point of Aqeedah and must be known. Know you Lord before everything else!!! (B) THE RELIGION OF DINKA OF AFRICA The people of Dinka live in a land which lies in a vast arc around the swamps of central Nile basin in the Southern Sudan. It is a flat country of open savannah and savannah forest, intersected by many rivers and streams converging upon the central basin of the Nile. About the nature of the Dinka's religious philosophy: The word which any enquirer into Dinka religion will first and most frequently hear is nhialic. Literally, the word is the locative form of nhial, meaning 'up' or 'above', and nhialic is the word used in many contexts in which we shoud speak of 'the sky'. Part of the meaning of nhialic, then, is conveyed by the 'sky' and 'in the above'. But further, nhialic is addressed and referred to as 'creator' (aciek) and 'my father' (wa), and prayers and sacrifice are offered to it. Regarding the attributes of nhialic: It would be easy, it is true, to translate nhialic aciek and nhialic wa as 'God the creator' and 'God (my) father', for the attributes of nhialic and 'God' there closely coincide, as do many others - unity, power, justice, 'highness', for example. [p. 29] In Dinka there are important interconnexions between notions of creation and of fatherhood, through the verb 'to create' is never interchangeable with the verb 'to beget'. Divinity (i.e., nhialic) created (cak) men in the beginning, and the men he created begot or bore (dhieth) children. Divinity did not 'beget' or 'bear' men, and it would be a linguistic mistake in Dinka either to use this express for the creation of men by Divinity, or to say that father and mother 'created' their child. Dhieth means both 'to beget' and 'to give birth to', so that verbally the activities of men and women in procreation are not distinguished from each other. When a man was asked to explain what happened in coitus, he described the physical act, and added 'And that is called begetting (dhieth), and Divinity will then slowly create (cak) the child in woman's belly' [p. 39]. And, of course, it goes without saying that when the woman is barren, it means that the Divinity has 'refused' her a child. Other attributes of Divinity are the Absolute Truth and the Judge. Divinity is specially needed to intervene in human affairs, to put them straight by making the truth appear. Wet nhialic, the 'word' of Divinity, is the truth, or what really and absolutely is so; and the Dinka think that in 204

certain circumstances men may speak this totally objective 'word', representing to others the true nature of things, whether of present, past, of future situations. Cit nhialic, 'like Divinity' or 'as Divinity', is one of the common expressions men used to guarantee the truth of what they say, and 'Divinity will see' is what any Dinka will say if he suspects another of lying or cheating him and can take no further action of his own in the matter. In some of the invocations reproduced later it will be seen that Divinity is made the final judge or right or wrong, even when men feel sure that they are right. Divinity is thus the guardian of truth - and sometimes signifies to men what really is the case, behind or beyond their errors and falsehoods. The author went on to say: The Dinka have no problem with the prospering sinner, for they are sure that Divinity will ultimately bring justice. Since among them every man at some time must meet with suffering and misfortune, death or disease among his family or his cattle, there is always evidence, for those who wish to refer to it, of divine justice. It is a serious matter when a man calls on Divinity to judge between him and another, so seriously that only a fool would take the risks involved if he knew he was in the wrong, and to call upon Divinity as witness gives the man who does so an initial presumption of being in the right. [p. 47] Divinity is also considered as the supreme being. Nhialic, Divinity, has no plural; it is both singular and plural in intention. [p. 30] Some interesting thoughts of Dinka about the Divinity: Divinity is 'in the above', and what rises into the sky thus approaches Divinity. I have been asked whether an aeroplane ever touches the sky, and if Divinity can be seen from it. This is a clear indication that the Dinka can regard Divinity as distinct from the 'physical' sky, for the sky itself can obviously be seen from the earth. The way in which terrestrail being may approach Divinity is by going high, by levitation, or sometimes by building a mound or 'pyramid'. There are many reports of the rising of holy men into the sky, and sometimes by those who claim that special relations have been established between divinity and themselves. Conversely, Divinity makes contact with the earth by falling, or by letting something fall, or by hurling something down. Such contacts are made in rain, lightning, comets and meteorites, and also in free- divinites which fall and possess men. All these are manifestations of Divinity. [p. 32-33] How about the beginning of relationship of Dinka and Divinity? Logically, and for the Dinka historically, their relations with Divinity begin with a story of the supposed conjunction, and then division, of the earth and the sky - the emergence of their world as it is. [p. 33] Dinka, to our surprise, have their own 'version' of Adam and Eve story, i.e., the first human beings on the earth. One of the myths of the separation of earth and sky already given shows that the Dinka also have the idea that Divinity originally created a pair, Garang and Abuk, from whom all men are descended. [p. 40] The first human beings, usually called Garang and Abuk, living on earth had to take care when they were doing their little planting or pounding, lest a hoe or a pestle should strike Divinity, but one day the woman 'because she was greedy' (in this context any Dinka would view her 'greed' indulgently) decided to plant (or pound) more than the permitted grain of millet. In order to do so she took one of the long-handled hoes (or pestles) which the Dinka now use. In 205

raising this pole to pound or cultivate, she struck Divinity who withdrew, offended, to present great distance from the earth, and sent a small blue bird (the colour od the sky) called atoc to sever the rope which had previously given the men access to the sky and to him. Since that time the country has been 'spoilt', for men have to labour for the food they need, and are often hungry. They can no longer as before freely reach Divinity, and they suffer sickness and death, which thus accompany their abrupt separation from Divinity. [p.33-34]221 There are, of course, other 'versions' of the same story as described above. From what we have seen above, it is clear that Monotheism existed among the tribes. And when Muslims encounter the Monotheism, we say, Subhaanallah, this is what Allah mentions in the Qur'an. We have to look for His Signs as Allah says: Soon will We show them our Signs in the (furthest) regions (of the earth), and in their own souls, until it becomes manifest to them that this is the Truth. Is it not enough that thy Lord doth witness all things? (Qurán 41:53) And Allah knows best. 222 (C) THE ZULUS: The Zulus is a very virile and militant people, who have given the name to Almighty God- uMVELINQANGI. But ask any Zulu as to who or what his umveliqangi is, and he will surely explain to you in Zulu: ‘HAWU UMNIMZANI! UYENA UMOYA OINGCWELE AKAZAU YENA, FITHI AKAZAL WANGA FUTHI AKUKHO LUTHO OLU FANA NAYE’ This is almost a word to word translation of Surah Ikhlas, chapter 112 of the Holy Qur’an: Say: He is Allah the One and Only; Allah the Eternal Absolute; He begetteth not nor is He begotten; And there is none like unto Him. (Qur’an:112:1_4) Now compare what the Zulu actually said: ‘O Sir! He is pure and Holy Spirit, He does not beget and He is not begotten, and further there is nothing like Him’. The more common term used by the Zulus for their God is: unkulunkulu, which literally means, ‘the Greatest of the Great, or the Mightiest of the Mighty (Almightu).223 (5.4.3.4) CONCEPT OF GOD IN SIKHISM: Sikhism is a non-Semitic, Aryan, non Vedic religion. Though not a major religion of the world, it is a branch or offshoot of Hinduism founded by Guru Nanak at the end of the 15th Century. It originated in the Area of Pakistan and North West India called Punjab meaning the land of the 5 rivers. Guru Nanak was born in a Kshatriya (warrior caste) Hindu family but was very strongly influenced by Islam and Muslims. 206

The word ‘Sikh’ is derived from the word ‘Sisya’ meaning disciple or follower. Sikhism is a religion of 10 Gurus, the first Guru being Guru Nanak and the 10th and the last being Guru Gobind Singh. The sacred book of Sikhism is Sri Guru Granth also called Adi Granth Sahib. The best definition that any Sikh can give regarding concept of God in Skhism is quote the “Mul Mantra”- the fundamental creed of Sikhism, which occurs at the beginning of Guru Granth Sahib. It is mentioned in Sri Guru Granth Sahib volume 1 Japuji, the first verse: “There exists but one God, who is called the true the creator, free from fear and hate, immortal not begotten, self existent, Great and compassionate.” Sikhism enjoins on its followers strict monotheism. It believes in only One Supreme God who is, in the unmanifest form called ‘ek omkara’. In the manifest form He is called as Omkara and has several attributes such as: Kartar-The Creator Sahib-The Lord Akal-The Eternal Sattanama- The Holy name Parvardigar-The Cherisher Rahim-The Merciful Karim-The Benevolent He is also called ‘Wahe Guru’- the One true God. Besides Sikhism being strictly monotheistic, it does not believe in Avatarvada- the doctrine of incarnation. Almighty God does not incarnate Himself in what is known as Avatara. Sikhism is also strongly against idol worship. Guru Nanak was influenced by the sayings of Sant Kabir so much that several chapters of Shri Guru Nanak Sahib contain couplets of Sant Kabir. One of the famous couplets of Sant Kabir is “ Dukh mein Sumirana sabh karein Sukh mein karein no koya. Jo such mein sumirana karein To dukh kahe hoye” (Everyone remembers God during trouble but no one remembers Him during peace and happiness. The one who remembers God during peace and happiness why should he have trouble ?). Compare this with the following verse of the Holy Qur’an: “When some trouble toucheth man he crieth unto his Lord turning to Him in repentance: but when He bestoweth a favor upon him as from Himself (man) doth forget what he cried and prayed for before and he doth set up rivals unto Allah thus misleading others from Allah's Path.” [Holy Qur’an 39:8] (5.4.3.5) Concept of God in Zoroastrianism: 207

Zoroastrianism is an ancient Aryan religion which originated in Persia more than 2500 years ago. Though it has relatively few adherents, less than one hundred and thirty thousand in the whole world, it is one of the oldest religions. The Iranian Prophet Zoroaster was founder of Zoroastrianism (also commonly known as Parsiism). The sacred scripture of the Parsis is the Dasatir and Avesta. God in Zoroastrian religion is known as ‘Ahura Mazda’. ‘Ahura’ means ‘the Lord’ and ‘Mazda’ means ‘the Wise’ hence ‘Ahura Mazda’ means ‘ the Wise Lord’ or ‘ the Wise Gift’. Ahura Mazda stands for a strict form of Monotheistic God. Qualities of God according to Dasatir: i) He is One ii) Nothing resembles Him. iii) He is without an origin or end. iv) He has no father or mother, wife or sun. v) Without a body or form. vi) Neither the eye can behold Him, nor the power of thinking can conceive him. vii) He is above all that you can imagine of. viii) He is nearer to you than your self. Qualities of God according to Avesta: The Gathas and the Yasna give the various characteristics to Ahura Mazda as- i) Creator (Yasna 31:7 & 11) (Yasna 50:11) (Yasna 51:7) ii) Most Mighty- the Greatest (Yasna 33:11) (Yasna 48:3) iii) Beneficent-‘Hudai’ (Yasna 33:11) (Yasna 48:3) iv) Bountiful- ‘Spenta’ (Yasna 43:4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15) (Yasna 44:2) (Yasna 45:5) (Yasna 46:9) (Yasna 48:3) 224 (5.4.3.6) Common concept of God in Hinduism: If you ask a common Hindu that how many Gods he believe in, some may say three some may say thirty three, some may say a thousand while some may say thirty three crore i.e. 330 millions. But if you ask this question to a Hindu learned man who is well Versed with the Hindu scriptures, he will reply that the Hindu should actually believe and worship only one God. Difference between Islam and Hinduism is ‘s’ 208

(Everything is ‘God’s’ - everything is ‘God’): The major difference between the Hindu and the Muslim is that the common Hindu believes in philosophy of Pantheism i.e. everything is God, the tree is God, the sun is God, the moon is God, the snake is God, the monkey is God, the human being is God. The Muslims believe that everything is God’s. God with and apostrophe ‘s’. Everything belongs to God, the tree belongs to God, the sun belongs to God, the moon belongs to God, monkey belongs to God, the human being belongs to God. Thus the major difference between the Hindus and the Muslims is the apostrophe ‘s’. The Hindu says everything is God. The Muslim says everything is God’s, God with an apostrophe ‘s’. If we can solve the difference of the apostrophe ‘s’, the Hindus and the Muslims will be united. The Holy Qur’an says, “Come to common terms as between us and you”, which is the first term? “That we worship none but Allah”, so lets come to common terms by analyzing the scripture of the Hindus and the Muslim. The most popular amongst all the Hindu scriptures is the Bhagwad Geeta. Bhagwad Geeta mentions in Chapter 7, Verse 20, “Those whose intelligence has been stolen by material desires worship demigods” that is “Those who are materialistic, they worship demigods” i.e. besides the true God. Upanishad are also one of the sacred scriptures of the Hindus. (i) Chandogya Upanishad, Chapter 6, Section 2, Verse 1 It is mentioned in the Chandogya Upanishad, Prapathaka(Chapter) 6, Khanda(Section)2, Shloka(Verse) “Ekam evaditiyam”, “He is one only without a second”. The principal Upanishad by S. Radhakrishnan, page 447 and 448(sacred books of the east Volume 1 the Upanishads, part I, page 93) a)(ii) Similar to what is mentioned in the Holy Qur’an in Surah Ikhlas, Chapter 112, Verse 1, “Say he is Allah one and only”. b) (i) Svetasvatara Upanishad, Chapter 6, Verse 9 It is mentioned in the Svetasvatara Upanishad, Adhyaya(Chapter) 6, Shloka(Verse) 9, “Na casya kascij janita na cadhipah” “Of him there is neither parents nor lord”. “na tasya kascit patir asti loke, na cesita naiva ca tasya lingam, na karanam karanadhipadhipo na casya kascij janita na cadhipah”. “Of him there is no master in the world, no ruler, nor is there any mark of him. He is the cause, the lord of the lords of the sense organs; of him there is neither progenitor nor lord”. (The principal Upanishad by S. Radhakrishnan page 745 and in sacred books of the east Volume 15, the Upanishads, part II, page 263) (ii) Similar message is given in Holy Qur’an in Surah Ikhlas, Chapter 112, Verse 3, “He begets not, nor is he begotten”. (i) In Svetasvatara Upanishad, Chapter 4, Verse 19 It is mentioned in Svetasvatara Upanishad, Adhyaya(Chapter) 4, Shloka(Verse) 19, “Na tasya pratima asti” “There is no likeness of him”. “nainam urdhvam na tiryancam na madhye na parijagrabhat na tasya pratima asti yasya nama mahad yasah” “There is no likeness of him whose name is great glory”. (The principal Upanishad by S. Radhakrishnan page 736 & 737 and in sacred books of the east Volume 15, the Upanishad, part II, page 253) 209

(ii) Similar message is given in the Holy Qur’an in Surah Ikhlas, Chapter 112, Verse 4, “And there is none like unto him”. (iii) Surah Shura, Chapter 42, Verse 11 and also in Surah Shura, Chapter 42, Verse 11, “There is nothing whatever like unto him”. c) (i) In Svetasvatara Upanishad, Chapter 4, Verse 20 It is mentioned in Svetasvatara Upanishad, Adhyaya(Chapter) 4, Shloka(Verse) 20, “na samdrse tishati rupam asya, na caksusa pasyati kas canainam” “his form cannot be seen, no one sees him with the eye” “nasamdrse tishati rupam asya, na caksusa pasyati kas canainam. Hrda hrdistham manasa ya enam, evam vidur amrtas te bhavanti” “His form is not to be seen; no one sees him with the eye. Those who through heart and mind know him as abiding in the heart become immortal”. (The principal Upanishad by S. Radhakrishnan page 737 & in sacred books of the east Volume 15, the Upanishad part II, page 253) (ii) Similar message is given in the Holy Qur’an in Surah Anam, Chapter 6, Verse 103, “No vision can grasp him. But his grasp is over all vision: he is above all comprehension, yet is acquainted with all things”. Vedas are the most sacred amongst all the Hindu scriptures, there are principally 4 Vedas, Rigved, Yajurved, Samved and Atharvaved. a) Yajurveda, Chapter 32, Verse 3 It is mentioned in Yajurved, Chapter 32, Verse 3: “na tasya pratima asti” “There is no image of Him” It further says as “He is unborn, He deserves our worship” “There is no image of him whose glory verily is great. He sustains within himself all luminous objects like the sun etc. may he not harm me, this is my prayer. As he is unborn, he deserves our worship”. (The Yajurveda by Devi Chand M.A. page 377) b) Yajurveda, Chapter 40, Verse 8 It is mentioned in Yajurved, Chapter 40, Verse 8, “He is body less and pure” “He hath attained unto the bright, bodiless, woundless, sinewless, the pure which evil hath not pierced. Far-sighted wise, encompassing, he self existent hath prescribed aims as propriety demands unto the everlasting years” (Yajurveda Samhita by Ralph I.H. Griffith page 538) c) Yajurveda, Chapter 40, Verse 9 It is mentioned in Yajurved, Chapter 40, Verse 9 “Andhatma pravishanti ye asambhuti mupaste” “They enter darkness, those who worship natural things” For e.g. air, water, fire etc. It further continues and says, “They sink deeper in darkness those who worship Sambhuti i.e. created things”, For example table, chair, idol etc. “Deep into shade of blinding gloom fall asambhuti’s worshippers. They sink to darkness deeper yet who on sambhuti are intent” (Yajurveda Samhita by Ralph T.H. Griffith page 538) 6. Atharvaveda a) (i) Atharvaveda, Book 20, Hymn (Chapter) 58, Verse 3 It is mentioned in Atharvaveda, Book 20, Hymn (Chapter) 58, Verse 3 “Dev maha osi” “God is verily great” 210

“Verily, surya, thou art great; truly, aditya, thou art great. As thou art great indeed thy greatness is admired: yea, verily, great art thou, O God” (Atharvaveda Samhiti Volume 2, William Dwight Whitney page 910) a) (ii) Surah Rad, Chapter 13, Verse 9 A similar message is given in Qur’an Surah Rad, Chapter 13, Verse 9, “He is the Great, the most High.” 7. Rigveda The most oldest and sacred amongst all the Vedas is Rigveda. a) Rigveda, Book No.1, Hymn No. 164, Verse 46 It is mentioned in Rigveda Book no.1, Hymn no.164 Verse 46 “Sages (learned Priest) call one God by many names” “They have styled (Him, God or the sun) indra (the resplendent), mitra (the surveyor), varuna (the venerable), agni (the adorable), and he is the celestial, well-winged garutmat (the great), for learned priests call one by many names as they speak of the adorable as yama (ordainer) and matarisvan (cosmic breath)”. b) (i) Rigveda, Book 2, Hymn 1 Rigveda gives no less than 33 different attributes to Almighty God several of these attributes are mentioned in Rigveda, Book 2, Hymn 1 b) (ii) Brahma - Creator - Khaliq, Rigveda Book 2, Hymn 1, Verse 3 Amongst the various attributes given in Rigveda one of the beautiful attributes for Almighty God is ‘Brahma’. ‘Brahma’ means ‘the creator’. If you translate into Arabic it means ‘Khaliq’. We Muslims have got no objection if you call Almighty God a ‘Khaliq’ or ‘Creator’ or ‘Brahma’ but if someone says that ‘Brahma’ is Almighty God who has got 4 heads and on each head is a crown and he has got 4 hands. We Muslims take strong except to it because you are giving an image to Almighty God. Moreover you are going against Yajurveda, Chapter 32, Verse 3, which says, “Na tasya pratima asti” ‘”There is no image of him” b) (iii) Vishnu - Sustainer - Rabb: Rigveda, Book II, Hymn 1, Verse 3 Another beautiful attribute mentioned in the Rigveda, Book II, Hymn 1, Verse 3, is Vishnu, ‘Vishnu’ means ‘the Sustainer’. If you translate into Arabic it means ‘Rabb’, we Muslims have no objection if anyone call Almighty God as ‘Rabb’ or ‘Sustainer’ or ‘Vishnu’ but if someone says Vishnu is Almighty God who has got 4 arms. One of the right arm holding the ‘Chakra’ i.e. a discus and one of the left arms holding a ‘Conch shell’ and he is riding on a bird or reclining on a snake couch. We Muslims take strong exception to this, because you are giving an image to Almighty God. Moreover you are going against Yajurveda, Chapter 40, Verse 8. c) Rigveda, Book 8, Hymn 1, Verse 1 It is mentioned in Rigveda, Book 8, Hymn 1, Verse 1 “Ma Chidanyadia Shansata” “Do not worship anybody but Him, the divine one Praise Him alone” “Ma cid anyad vi sansata sakhayo ma rishanyata in dram it stota vrishanam saca sute muhaur uktha ca sansata”. “O friends, do not worship anybody but Him, the divine one. Let no grief perturb you. Praise Him alone, the radiant, the showerer of benefits. During the course of self- realization, go on repeatedly uttering Hymns in His honour”. (Rigveda Samhiti, Volume IX, page 1 and 2 by Swami Satyaprakash Sarasvati and Satyakam Vidhya Lankar) d) (i) Rigveda, Book 5, Hymn 81, Verse 1 211

It is mentioned in Rigveda, Book 5, Hymn 81, Verse 1, “Verily great is the glory of the divine creator” (Rigveda Samhiti, Volume 6, page 1802 and 1803 by Swami Satya Prakash Saraswati and Satyakam Vidhyalanka) d) (ii) Surah Fateha, Chapter 1, Verse 2 Similar message is given in the Holy Qur’an In Surah Fateha, Chapter 1, Verse 2, “Praise be to Allah, the Cherisher and Sustainer of the worlds”. e) (i) Rigveda, Book 3, Hymn 34, Verse 1 It is mentioned in Rigveda, Book 3, Hymn 34, Verse 1:“The bounteous giver” (Hymns of Rigveda, Volume 2, page 377, by Ralph T.H. Griffith) e) (ii) Surah Fateha, Chapter 1, Verse 3 Same as Surah Fateha, Chapter 1, Verse 3, “Most Gracious, most merciful” f) (i) Yajurveda, Chapter 40, Verse 160 It is mentioned in Yajurveda, Chapter 40, Verse 16 “Lead us to the good path and remove the sin that makes us stray and wonder” “By goodly path lead us to riches, Agni, thou God who knowest all our works and wisdom. Remove the sin that makes us astray and wander: most ample adoration will we bring thee” (The Yajurveda Samhiti by Ralph T.H Griffith Page 541) f) (ii) Surah Fateha, Chapter 1, Verse 6 and 7 Similar message is given in Surah Fateha, Chapter 1, Verse 6 and 7 “Show us the straight way, the way of those on whom thou has bestowed thy grace, those whose (portion) is not wrath. And who go not astray”. g) Rigveda, Book No VI, Hymn 45, Verse 16 It is mentioned in Rigveda, Book VI, Hymn 45, Verse 16 “Ya eka ittamushtuhi” “Praize Him who is the matchless and alone.” (Hymns of Rigveda by Ralph T.H. Griffith page 648) 8. Brahma Sutra of Hindu Vedanta The Brahma Sutra of Hindu Vedanta is: “Ekam Brahm, dvitiya naste nen na naste kinchan” “Bhagwan ek hi hai dusara nahi hai, nahi hain nahi hai zara bhi nahi hai.” “There is only one God, not the second, not at all, not in the least bit.” Therefore only if you read the Hindu Scripture will you understand the correct concept of God in Hinduism. (A) Avtaars and Messengers in Hinduism: There is no concept of Messengers of God in Hinduism. However they have a concept of Avtaar. Avtaar is the Sanskrit term where ‘Av’ means down and ‘tr’ means passover. Thus Avtar means to descend down or to come down. The meaning of Avtaar in the oxford Dictionary is, “(In Hindu Mythology) the descent of a diety of a released soul to earth in bodily form”. In simple words, Avtaar means God Almighty coming down to earth in bodily form. 212

In Hinduism, It is believed that God Almighty comes down to the earth in some bodily form to protect the religion or to set an example or set the rules for the human beings. There is no reference of Avtaars anywhere in the Vedas. The most sacred of the Hindu Scriptures i.e. Sruti. However it is found in the Smrti i.e. the Puranas and the Itihasas. It is mentioned in the most popular and widely read book of Hinduism. Bhagavad Geeta, Chapter 4, Verse 7-8 “Whenever and wherever there is a decline in religious practice, O descendent of Bharata, and a predominant rise of irreligion at that time I descend Myself”. “To deliver the Pious and to annihilate the miscreants, as well as to reestablish the principles of religion, I myself appear, millenium after millennium”. Thus according to Bhagavad Geeta, God takes Avtaar to deliver the pious and annihilate miscreants and to reestablish the principles of religion. According to the Puranas there are hundreds of Avtaars, but the Vishnu the sustainer has 10 Avtaars. Matsya-avatar, in the form of a fish Kurm-avatar, in the form of a tortoise Varah-avatar, in the form of a boar or a pig Narasimha-avatar, in the form of a monster, half man half lion Vamana-avatar, in the form of a Brahmin dwarf named Vamana Parashuaram-avatar, in the form of Parashurama Rama-avatar, in the form of Rama, the hero of Ramayana Krishna-avatar, in the form of Krishna, the hero of Gita Buddha-avatar, in the form of Gautam Buddha Kalki-avatar, in the form of Kalki (Rigveda Samhiti, Volume XII, page 4309 by Swami Satyaprakash Saraswati and Satyakam Vidhyalank) All these Scriptures are telling its reader that though the things are made so clear yet they divert away from the truth. Concept of Rebirths in Hinduism -Reincarnation or Transmigration of the souls: Hinduism believe in the cycle of birth, death and Rebirth, which is called as samsara. Samsara or the doctrine of Rebirth is also called as the theory of Reincarnation or the transmigration of the Soul and is considered to be the basic tenet of Hinduism. According to doctrine of Rebirth the difference found between one individual and the other even at birth like one child is healthy the other is handicapped or blind is due to their part karma i.e. actions done in the past birth. Similarly all actions may not bear fruit in this life, thus there has to be another life. Its mentioned in Bhagavad Geeta in Chapter 2, Verse 22: “As a person puts on new garments, giving up old ones the Soul similarly accepts new material bodies, giving up the old and useless.” The doctrine of Rebirth in also described in Brhadaranyaka Upanishad, Part 4 Chapter 4, Verse 3 : “As a caterpillar which has wriggled to the top of a blade of grass draws itself over 213

to a new blade, so does the Soul, after it has put aside its body draw itself over to a new existence. Karma – the law of Cause and Effect Karma means act, action or activity and refers not only to action undertaken by the body but also to those undertaken by the mind Karma is actually action and reaction or the law of cause and effect. It is explained by the saying, “As we sow so shall we reap” A Farmer cannot sow wheat and expect Rice. Similarly every good thought word or deed begets a similar reaction which affects our next life and every unkind thought harsh word and evil deed comes back to harm us in this life or in the next life. Dharma – righteous duties: Dharma means what is right or Righteous duties. This includes what is right for the individual, family, the class or cast and also for the universe itself in order to achieve good Karma life should be lived according to Dharma, otherwise its will result in bad Karma. Dharma besides affecting the present life can also affect the future. Moksha – liberation from the cycle of Rebirth: Moksha means liberation from the cycle of Rebirth i.e. Samsara. The ultimate aim of every Hindu is that one-day the cycle of Rebirth will be over and he will not have to reborn again. This can only happen if there is no Karma to cause an individual to reborn i.e. it looses its good and bad Karma. Rebirth not mentioned in the Vedas: The Doctrine of rebirth is not mentioned anywhere in the Vedas. There is no concept of transmigration of the Souls. ANTHROPOMORPHISM: a. God need not take human form to understand human being. Most of the other religions some time or the other believes in the philosophy of anthropomorphism i.e. God take human form. They have a very good logic for it Almighty God is so pure and Holy the he is unaware of the hardships, shortcomings, difficulties feelings etc. of the human being. He does not know how does a person feel when he is hurt or when he is in trouble etc. Therefore in order to set the rules for the human beings. He came down to the earth in the form of a human being. On the face of it, it seems to be a very good logic. b. Creator prepares an instruction manual. Suppose I manufacture a tape recorder. Do I have to become a tape recorder to know what is good or what is bad for the tape recorder. I writer an instruction manual. In order to listen to the audiocassette, insert the cassette and press the play button. In order to stop, press the stop button. If you want to fast-forward press the FF. button. Do not drop it from a height it will get damaged. Do not immerse it in water it will get spoilt. I write an instruction manual. The dos and don’ts for the machine. c. Holy Qur’an is the instruction manual for the human being. In the similar fashion our lord and creator Allah (SWT) need not come in the form of a human being to know what is good or bad for the human being. He only has to reveal the instruction manual the last and final instruction manual of the human beings is the Holy Qur’an. The dos and don’ts for the human beings is mentioned in the Holy Qur’an. d. Allah chooses messengers: 214

Allah (SWT) need not come down personally for writing the instruction manual. He chooses a man amongst men to deliver the message and communication with him at a higher level through the revelation. Such chosen men are called as messengers and prophets of God. (B) ARE THE VEDAS A REVELATION OF GOD? : If Allah has sent his books and revelations in every period, then which revelation was sent to India? Can we consider the Vedas and other Hindu scriptures to be word of God? There is no text in the Qur’an or Sahih Hadith mentioning the name of the revelation that was sent to India. Since the name of the Vedas or other Hindu scriptures are no where to be found in Qur’an and Sahih Hadith, one cannot say for sure that they were the revelations of God. They may be the revelation of God or may not be the revelation of God. Even if the Vedas and the other scriptures were the revelations from God, they were only meant for people of that time and were to be followed only for that particular period of time. Today all human beings through out the world including India should only follow the last and final Revelation of God, i.e. the Qur’an. Moreover since all the previous revelations were not meant to be followed for eternity, Almighty God did not preserve them in their original form. There is not a single religious scripture of any of the major religions, which claims to be the word of God and has maintained its pure original text and is free from alteration, adulteration and interpolation. Since the Glorious Qur’an is to be followed for eternity, Allah (SWT) has taken upon Himself to maintain its original purity and guard it from corruption. Allah says in Glorious Qur’an. Surah Hijr, Chapter 15, Verse 9: “We have without doubt, sent down the Message; and We will assuredly guard it (from corruption).” [Al-Qur’an 15:9] (C) Which Prophet was sent to India? 25 Prophets of God are mentioned by name in the Qur’an By name, only 25 Prophets of God are mentioned in the Qur’an e.g. Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, Muhammad (pbuh) More than 1,24,000 prophets of God: According to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), there were more than 1,24,000 prophets sent to this world. All previous prophets sent only for their people: All the prophets that came before Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) were only sent for their own people and were to be followed only for a particular period of time. Surah Ali Imran, Chapter 3, Verse 49: “And (appoint him) a messenger to the Children of Israel…” [Al-Qur’an 3:49]. Muhammad (pbuh), the last messenger of God: Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is the last and final messenger of Almighty God. It is mentioned in Surah Ahzab, Chapter 33, Verse 40: “Muhammad is not the father of any of your men, but (he is) the Messenger of Allah, and the seal of the Prophets: and Allah has full knowledge of all things.” [Al-Qur’an 33:40]. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), sent for whole Humankind: Since Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is the last and final messenger, he was not sent only for the Muslims or the Arabs, but he was sent for the whole of humankind: a. It is mentioned in Surah Anbiya, Chapter 21, Verse 107 “We sent thee not, but as a mercy for all creatures.” [Al-Qur’an 21:107] 215

b. A similar message is repeated in Surah Saba, Chapter 34, Verse 28: “We have not sent thee but as a universal (Messenger) to men, giving them glad tidings, and warning them (against sin), but most men understand not.” [Al-Qur’an 34:28] c. It is mentioned in Sahih Bukhari, Volume 1, Book of Salaah, Chapter 56, Hadith no. 429 Narrated Jabir bin Abdullah: Allah’s Messenger said, “Every Prophet used to be sent to his nation only but I have been sent to all mankind.” Regarding the question of which prophet was sent to India, and can we consider Ram or Krishna to be prophets of God, there is no text in the Qur’an or Sahih Hadith mentioning the name of the prophet that was sent to India. Since the names of Ram and Krishna are nowhere to be found in the Qur’an and Sahih Hadith, one cannot say for sure whether they were prophets of God or not. Some Muslims, especially certain Muslim politicians who try to appease the Hindus, say Ram Alai-his-salaam, i.e. Ram, may peace be on him. This is totally wrong, since there is no authentic proof from the Qur’an and Sahih Hadith that he was a prophet of God. However, a person may say that perhaps they may have been the prophets of God. Even if Ram and Krishna were prophets, today we have to follow the last Prophet of God i.e. Muhammad (pbuh) Even if Ram and Krishna were prophets of God, they were only meant for people of that time and were to be followed only for that particular period of time. Today, all the human beings throughout the world, including India should only follow the last and final prophet and Messenger of God-prophet Muhammad (pbuh). (D) The Common Elements between Hinduism and Islam: (i) Life after death: Its mentioned in the Qur’an Surah Baqarah, Chapter 2, Verse 28 : “How can ye reject the faith in Allah? Seeing that ye were without life, And He gave you life; Then will He cause you to die, And will again bring you to life; And again to Him Will ye return”. In Islam a human being comes into this world only once and after he dies, he is again resurrected on the day of judgement and depending upon the deeds he has done he will either dwell in heaven i.e. Paradise or in hell. This life is the test for the hereafter. It is mentioned in the Qur’an Surah Al Mulk, Chapter 67, Verse 2: “He who created Death and Life, that He May try which of you is best in deed; and He is the exalted in Might, oft forgiving.” This life that we lead in this world is a test for the here after. If we follow the commandment of the creator Almighty Allah and we pass the test, We shall enter Paradise i.e. Eternal Bliss. If you do not follow the commandments of our creator and fail the test then we shall be put into Hell. Full Recompense on the Day of Judgement. Its mentioned in the Qur’an Surah Ali Imran, Chapter 3, Verse 185: “Every soul shall have a taste of death And only on the Day of Judgement shall you be paid your full recompense. Only he who is saved far from the fire 216

and admitted to the Garden will have attained the object (of life). For the life of this world is but goods and chattels of deception”. Paradise – Al-Jannah: Al-Jannah i.e. Paradise is a place of Perpetual bliss, in Arabic it literally means the Garden. The Qur’an describes the Jannah in great detail, such as Paradise, underneath which rivers run. It contains rivers of milk unchanging in flavor and rivers of honey purified. In it is fruit of every kind. No fatigue shall be fell neither shall they hear idle talk. There shall be no cause of sin except Peace and Peace. Hell – Jahannam: Hell is a place of torment where the people undergo suffering most often described as fire, a fire whose fuel is men and stones. In Hinduism: There is reference to life after death in the Vedas. It’s mentioned in a. Rigveda Book No. 10, Hymn No. 16, Verse No. 4 “The unborn portion; burn that, AGNI, with thy heat; let thy flame, thy splendour, consume it; with those glorious members which thou has given him, JATAVEDAS, bear him to the world (of the virtuous)” The Sanskrit word Sukritam u Lokam means the world of the virtuous or region of the pious, referring to the hereafter. The next Verse i.e. b. Rigveda, Book 10 Hymn 16, Verse 5 says. “…Putting on (celestial) life, let the remains (of bodily life) depart let him, JATAVEDAS be associated with a body.” This Verse too refers to a second life i.e. life after death. Purnjanam is not cycle of Rebirth but life after death. The common word used for the Doctrine of Rebirth is ‘Punarjanam’. In Sanskrit Punar or Puna means ‘next time’ or ‘again’ and Janam means ‘life’. Therefore Punarjanam means next life or the life here after. It does not means coming to life again and again. Most of the reference for Punarjanam in the other Hindu Scriptures besides the Vedas if read keeping life hereafter in mind including the quotation of Bhagavad Gita and Upanishad it give us a concept of next life or life again but not life again and again. This concept of Rebirth again and again was developed later on after the vedic period to rationalize the indifferences found in different individuals at birth and different surrounding in which people live. Since the creator Almighty can not be unjust. Paradise-Swarga in the Vedas: Swarg i.e. Paradise is described in several places in the Vedas including Atharvaveda, Book 4, Hymn 34, Verse 6 (Devichand): “May all these streams of butter, with their banks of honey, flowing with distilled water, and milk and curds and water reach thee in domestic life enhancing thy pleasure. May thou acquire completely these things strengthening the soul in diverse ways.” It’s mentioned in Atharvaveda, Book 4, Hymn 34, Verse 6 (Ved pra.): “Having pools of clarified butter, stocks of sweet honey, and having exhilarating drinks for water, full of milk 217

and curds, may all these streams flew to us in the world of happiness swelling sweetly. May our lakes full of Lotuses be situated near us”. It’s mentioned in Atharvaveda, Book 4, Hymn 34, Verse 2: “Bereft of physical bodies, pure, cleansed with the wind, brilliant, they go to a brilliant world. The fire does not cause burning in their male organ. In the world if happiness they get plenty of women”. It’s mentioned in Atharvaveda, Book 2, Hymn 34, Verse 5: May the realized ones, first of all, take the vital breath under their control from the limbs in which it has been circulating. Go to heaven, stay firm with all the parts of your body Attain the world of light and emancipation, following the path of the enlightened ones, (your predecessors). It is mentioned in Atharvaveda, Book 6, Hymn 122, Verse 3: “O both of you, start to accomplish it; make determined effort to accomplish it. Those having unflinching faith attain this abode of happiness. Whatever ripe offerings you have made in fire of sacrifice may both, the husband and wife, stand united to guard them with care”. It is mentioned in Rigveda, Book 10, Hymn 95, Verse 18: “O Aila, the loud-sounding clouds, these divines say to you, since you are indeed subject to death, let your progeny propitiate your revered cosmic forces with oblations, then alone you shall rejoice (with me) in heaven” Hell-Nark in the Vedas: Nark or Hell is also described in the Vedas and the Sanskrit word used is ‘Narakasthanam’. It is mentioned in Rigveda, Book 4, Hymn 5, Verse 4: “May the bounteous fire-divine, consume them with his fiercely glowing sharp jaws like flames, who disregard the commandments and steadfast laws of most venerable and sagacious lord”. (ii) Concept of Destiny – Qadr in Islam and Hinduism: Qadr is the concept of Destiny. Certain aspects of human life is predestined by our creator Almighty Allah for e.g. where and when will a person be born. The Surround and condition in which he will be born, how long will he live and where will he die. In Hinduism the differences in two individual at birth e.g. one child is healthy while the other is handicapped, one child is born in a rich family and the other in a poor family is based on past karma i.e. actions of the previous life. There is no scientific or logical proof of the cycle of Rebirths. The Islamic concept for these differences in different Individual is given in Surah Mulk, Chapter 67, Verse 2 “He who created Death and life, that He may try which of you is best in deed; And He is the Exalted In Might; oft-forgiving”. This life that we live is the test for the hereafter. There are several Verses in the Qur’an which clearly specify that Our Creator Almighty Allah tests us in several different ways It is mentioned in the Qur’an Surah Baqarah, Chapter 2, Verse 214: “Or do ye think that ye shall enter the Garden (of Bliss) without such (trials) as came to those who passed away before you? They encountered suffering and adversity, And were so shaken in Spirit that even the messenger and those of faith who were with him cried. “When (will come) the help of Allah” Ah! Verily, the help of Allah is (always) near!” 218

It is mentioned in the Qur’an: Surah Ankabut, Chapter 29, Verse 2: “Do men think that they will be left a lone on saying, “we believe”, And that they will not be tested?” It is mentioned in the Qur’an: Surah Anbiya, Chapter 21, Verse 35: “Every Soul shall have a taste of death. And we test you by evil and by good by way of trial to us must ye return.” It is mentioned in the Qur’an : Surah Baqarah, Chapter 2, Verse 155: “Be sure we shall test you with something of fear and hunger, some loss in goods or lives or the fruits (of your tail), but give Glad tidings to those who patiently persevere.” It is mentioned in the Qur’an: Surah Anfal, Chapter 8, Verse 28: “And know ye that your possession and your progeny are but a trial; And it is Allah with whom lies your highest reward”. 225 REFERENCES 219

206. Muhammad Iqball Kailani, The Book of Oneness of Allahp.17_22 207. http://www.beliefnet.com/features/abrahamicfaiths.html, The Abrahamic Faiths: A Comparison How do Judaism, Christianity, and Islam differ? 208. You can read the Stories of Returning (Converted) Muslims at www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/newmuslims 209. For anwers on Jesus and Christianity, you can go to www.answering-christianity.com 210.http://saifur.tripod.com/muslimview.html Homepage Last updated July 25, 2005 211. Br. Mohamed Shereef De Alwis, Islmaic Guidance Centre, Jubail, CD: Intensive Dawah Training Programme, Stage I 212. Dr. Zakir Abdul Karim Naik, Concept of God in Various Religions, IRF 213. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monotheism 214. http://www.islamia.com/the_last_religion.htm Source: Ideals and Realities of Islam by Seyyed Hossein Nasr 215. Dr. Zakir Abdul Karim Naik, Concept of God in Various Religions, IRF 216. Majid S. Al Rassi, Edited by Dr. Bilal Philips, Islam is your birthright 217. http://jews-for-allah.org/Muhammad-and-Judaism/the-Jewish-Bible/genuine-prophets.htm 218. Dr. Zakir Abdul Karim Naik, Concept of God in Various Religions, IRF 219. http://jews-for-allah.org/Muhammad-and-Judaism/the-Jewish-Bible/genuine-prophets.htm 220. Leopold Pospoisil, Rihart & Winston Holt, The Kapaku Papuans of West Guinea, 1978 221. Godfrey Lienhardt, Divinity And Experience: The Religion of Dinka, The Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1978,1961 222. Dr. M.S.M Saifullah. © Islamic Awareness, Published:

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Religions In Quran

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